Digital accessibility and sustainability drive a switch to online patient information at UCLH

UCLH is currently transferring over 800 patient information leaflets into a new digital format that can be accessed from any computer, smartphone or tablet.

The project has been delivered as part of NHS England's push for digital accessibility compliance, and involves replacing online PDFs with accessible web pages, which can be read by screen readers and other assistive technology.

Physical leaflets also run the risk of being given to patients after their expiry date and add to the amount of waste we produce as a hospital. This shift saves paper and reduces the carbon footprint associated with printing and distributing physical leaflets.

With a post funded by UCLH Charity, the patient experience team have worked closely with the communications team to convert leaflets to the new digital format. The pages can easily be printed, for anyone who prefers a physical copy. The project team also consulted with staff and patient groups.

Matthew Batchelor, project manager said:

“The first stage of converting all in-date patient information into this format is now complete. We are grateful for invaluable support from both the patient experience team and the digital communications team.”

Together with service information leads, the project team is now reviewing patient information to identify where updates are required, and to remove outdated information. This will make sure that patients are only offered information that is relevant and up to date.

There is also a project to produce private patient-specific versions of patient information, to make sure that these patients are provided with the correct information where care pathways differ.

The process for updating the leaflets will be streamlined, with the use of online approval forms to replace printed ones; with the help of the digital team, web pages can be updated quickly and efficiently.

Amanda Tabor, patient experience manager said:

“By improving the accessibility of our patient information, we aim to ensure that all our patients are better informed about the care they receive at UCLH, to support patients' involvement in decision making. By removing our reliance on paper copies, the initiative will also cut printing costs and reduce our carbon footprint. It’s a positive move for our patients, and an important step towards a more sustainable UCLH.”