01/10/2025
What is Health Literacy? #Healthliteracymonth
‘Health literacy is about our knowledge, skills, understanding and confidence to be able to use health and social care information and services to make good health decisions.’ (Western Health Literacy Delivery Partnership 2019)
Did you know that lack of health literacy is closely linked to poor health outcomes?
This October to help raise awareness, we are promoting the ‘Ask me three’ campaign.
‘Ask me three’ encourages patients, service users and carers to ask three specific questions of their health care providers (such as GP’s, social worker, nurse, physio etc.) to better understand their health conditions and what they need to do to maintain good health.
The three questions patients should ask of their health care provider during every visit are.
- What is my main problem/issue?
- What do I need to do?
- Why is it important for me to do this?
Be sure to ask your healthcare provider to explain any complicated language, using easy to understand words with no jargon and ask for contact details should you have any questions after your appointment.
For further information and support contact Patti Thornton at the Health Improvement, Equality and Involvement Department, Western Trust.
Email- patti.thornton@westerntrust.hscni.net
Tel: 028 7186 5127