Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Patients are being put at risk of emergency admission into hospital because they don't understand health jargon.
A major new report on health literacy published today found 43% of adults struggle to understand exactly what their doctor has told them, what they read in a medical leaflet, a letter from hospital or instructions inside a packet of tablets.
Experts warn the problem is widespread with many patients left distressed, confused and in danger of falling ill because they do not understand medical terms.
Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: “Low levels of health literacy can have serious implications for patients.
"Confusion about how to take medication properly, how to recognise symptoms, how to understand medical letters and how to navigate the NHS can all arise.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nhs-patients-risk-because-not-3713389
A major new report on health literacy published today found 43% of adults struggle to understand exactly what their doctor has told them, what they read in a medical leaflet, a letter from hospital or instructions inside a packet of tablets.
Experts warn the problem is widespread with many patients left distressed, confused and in danger of falling ill because they do not understand medical terms.
Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: “Low levels of health literacy can have serious implications for patients.
"Confusion about how to take medication properly, how to recognise symptoms, how to understand medical letters and how to navigate the NHS can all arise.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nhs-patients-risk-because-not-3713389