The information is designed to help people with long-term conditions such as cancer, or mental health problems, as patients only remember on average 10% of consultations, according to the Department of Health. The initiative, which has funding of GBP1.35 million, will initially focus on cancer and mental health and later on vulnerable older people, and will run until the end of 2007.
Minister of Health Rosie Winterton said: “I want to help patients to help themselves. Better access to information at the point of diagnosis and throughout the care pathway will empower people to manage their condition more effectively, taking greater control over their own lives.”