Health literacy is about people being able to get hold of, understand, and use information about health. Low health literacy is a common problem. Six out of ten adults in England find it hard to understand and use health information. This can affect their health and how they manage any illness. Health literacy can be improved by people themselves, by the communities they live in, and by health services.

This event is to share thoughts, plans and activities to build health literacy in communities in the North East and Yorkshire areas of England. This event is for people from health and social care, voluntary sector, local libraries, universities, school education and community engagement who want to come together to raise awareness, take action and advocate for improving access to information and health literacy across our communities in the North East and Yorkshire.

Confirmed speakers for the day include:

• Gill Rowland, GP, Professor of Primary Care, and Training Lead, North East and North Cumbria Applied Research Collaboration
• Jonathan Berry, National Health Literacy Lead, Personalised Care Group, NHS England & NHS Improvement
• Joanne Naughton, NHS Knowledge and Library Services Development, Health Education England
• Ryan Swiers, Consultant in Public Health, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
• Llinos Jones, Respiratory Consultant, Mid-Yorkshire NHS Trust
• Ana Disley, Executive Director New Writing North
• James Kingett and Allison Potter, National Literacy Trust, Middlesbrough Reads Project
• Andrea Ellison, Leeds Library Literacy Project
• Alicia O’Cathain, Director of the Health and Care Research Unit, ScHARR, University of Sheffield
• Tarryn Lake, Associate Director of Finance, Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group (on behalf of North East & North Cumbria Integrated Care Board)

This will be a face to face meeting with lunch and refreshments provided during the day so please only register if you know you can travel to the venue on the day.