📘 Easy Read: Easy Read Hospital Communications Handbook (St George’s Version)

 

What is this Handbook?

• It helps hospital staff and patients understand each other better. St George's Hospital NHS Trust

• It uses realistic pictures (not confusing symbols) from the Easy Pics image bank. St George's Hospital NHS Trust

• For people such as:
    • those with learning disabilities St George's Hospital NHS Trust
    • hearing impairments St George's Hospital NHS Trust
    • autism St George's Hospital NHS Trust
    • acquired communication difficulties St George's Hospital NHS Trust
    • those whose first language isn’t English St George's Hospital NHS Trust

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What is inside the Handbook?

Here are some of the sections:

Section	What it covers
My Basic Needs	Allergies; health conditions; things I may need; clothes; personal hygiene; mobility and moving. St George's Hospital NHS Trust
Food & Drink	Dietary needs; help with drinking; drink choices; help with eating; food choices; “nil by mouth” (no eating or drinking) St George's Hospital NHS Trust
How I Am Feeling	Pain images; male/female body pictures; pain scale; signs & symptoms; maternity related info St George's Hospital NHS Trust
Tests & Treatment	Common hospital tests & observations; X-rays; treatments etc. St George's Hospital NHS Trust
Communication Tools	Days/dates/times; British Sign Language alphabet; communication-tips; going home/discharge info. St George's Hospital NHS Trust

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Extra Things the Handbook Gives You

• This is Me – My Care Passport: a document people can fill in to tell staff their likes, dislikes, preferences, needs. St George's Hospital NHS Trust

• Easy Read Factsheets: helps patients prepare for their hospital visit, stay, and discharge. St George's Hospital NHS Trust

• Easy Read Appointment Letters with pictures: helps patients understand “when” and “where”. St George's Hospital NHS Trust

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Tips for Good Communication (from the Handbook)

• Speak clearly, use simple, everyday words. Don’t use jargon. St George's Hospital NHS Trust

• Use pictures or show actual objects if possible. St George's Hospital NHS Trust

• Give the person time to understand and answer. St George's Hospital NHS Trust

• Check that you have understood each other. St George's Hospital NHS Trust

• Use yes/no questions & images to aid choice. St George's Hospital NHS Trust

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❓ Quiz Questions (Separate Page)

1. Who developed the Hospital Communication Handbook?

2. Name three groups of people who the Handbook is meant to help.

3. What image bank does the Handbook use for pictures?

4. List two sections from the Handbook.

5. What is “This is Me – My Care Passport” for?

6. Give two tips the Handbook gives for good communication.

7. Why is it helpful to use pictures or real objects, not just words?