The Role of Welsh Health Libraries in Supporting Information Provision to NHS Users

1. The Role of Welsh Health Libraries in Supporting Information Provision to NHS Users Anne Cleves AWHILES Conference 14th July 2009

2. “Development of improved health information to help people engage with their care in an informed way” (Wanless, 2002) Do health libraries have a role?

3. Background Key Documents • Improving Health in Wales: A plan for the NHS with its partners (National Assembly in Wales, 2001) • Designed for Life: Creating World Class Health and Social Care for Wales in the 21st Century (Welsh Assembly Government, 2005) • Securing Our Future Health: Taking a Long-Term View (Wanless, 2002)

4. Research Questions • What role do health libraries in Wales play in supporting information provision to NHS users? • What methods and resources do health libraries in Wales employ in supporting information provision to NHS users? • What are health librarians’ attitudes to supporting information provision to NHS users? • How can health libraries improve their services to NHS users?

5. Objectives • Identify relevant literature on the role and methods employed by health libraries to facilitate access to health information by NHS users. • Identify the arena of health libraries in Wales and the population of NHS users that they serve. • Conduct a survey of health libraries to assess the services provided to NHS users and the attitudes of librarians to providing services to this user group. • Review the findings of the survey in the relation to the findings of the literature review. • Draw conclusions on the findings to inform recommendations on how health libraries can improve their services to NHS users.

6. Definitions • NHS User: as a patient or member of the public who uses the services of the NHS, including those who are “well” and living in the community e.g. people targeted by public health campaigns. • Health Information: information regarding diseases, conditions, care services and support groups. • Health Libraries: libraries that specifically deal with information related to health.

7. Literature Review Main Themes • Reference Services • Collaborative Partnerships • Patient Education Rounds

8. Issues • Funding • Staff time • Appropriateness of resources • Librarians attitudes • Training • Electronic resource licenses • Computer access

9. Welsh Health Libraries • Hospital Library • Academic Library • Heath Charity Library • Public Health Library • Government Health Library • Professional Health Organisation Library

10. Pilot Study • Cancer Research Wales Library • National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare, Learning Laboratory

11. Questionnaire • Section A: Library characteristics • Section B: Libraries involvement with NHS users • Section C: Librarians attitudes to information provision to NHS users • Section D: Librarians attitudes to methods for information provision to NHS users.

12. Reference Services • Only 3% of Welsh health libraries hold information resources for NHS users. • 83% of Welsh health libraries do not routinely allow physical access. • Only 10% of Welsh health libraries allow NHS users to become members.

13. 13% of librarians agreed that NHS users should be allowed access to any health library. Direct Access

14. Physical Resources 73% of librarians felt the resources held are not appropriate for use by NHS users.

15. Funding 70% of librarians agreed that are not funded to provide information to NHS users.

16. 60% agreed that health library staff are not trained to give information directly to NHS users. Training

17. Collaborative Partnerships • 42% of libraries said they had provided health information to public libraries. • 54% of libraries said there was no patient information service within their organisation and a further 33% said they didn’t know. • 32% of libraries conduct mediated searches to inform the production of resources for NHS users.

18. 77% of libraries agreed that libraries from other sectors should work together. Other Sectors

19. Collaborative Partnerships with Public Libraries • 50% of librarians agreed with the scenario

20. 75% of librarians agreed with the scenario. Collaborative Partnerships with Patient Information Services

21. Patient Education Rounds • 97% of Welsh libraries have not assisted NHS users with their information needs away from the library environment.

22. Patient Education Rounds • 38% of librarians disagreed with the scenario • 35% of librarians were undecided • 27% of librarians agreed with the scenario

23. Conclusions • Welsh health libraries do not play significant role in information provision to NHS users. • Welsh health libraries do not have resources specifically aimed at NHS users. • Welsh health librarians overall displayed a negative attitude to developing a role in information provision to NHS users.

24. Barriers • Funding “Would be a fantastic service to offer but where does the funding for staff time and resources come from?” • Resources “I think librarians could provide an excellent, professional service to the public, but we are not resourced for it.” • Training “Library staff are not trained to give information directly to the public. They may provide inappropriate information, not knowing details of the patient’s condition”

25. Recommendations • Take a more proactive role in partnerships with other sector libraries. • Take a more proactive role with other stakeholders. • Liaise with health professionals on the information needs of NHS users. • Establish a more cohesive policy nationally on health libraries role in information provision to NHS users.

26. Future Research • Assessment of information provision provided by other services across Wales • Health professionals views on libraries involvement in information provision to NHS users

27. Thank you ! Lynchae1@cf.ac.uk

28. The Way Forward ?

29. Discuss! 54% of libraries said there was no patient information service within their organisation. 33% didn’t know. Is this any of our business? What (if anything) should we do about it?