The Crystal Clear MSD Health Literacy Awards 2013 have announced the fifteen shortlisted candidates that have been recognised for their outstanding efforts to communicate with people in a crystal clear way.

As a result of being shortlisted, the shortlisted entries will be invited to attend the Crystal Clear MSD Health Literacy Awards Ceremony in Dublin on Monday, 13th May 2013.

Almost 130 entries were received this year across the healthcare sector including; GPs, nurses, practice managers, physiotherapists, and hospital catering managers. The entry level to the Crystal Clear Awards has remained very high over the last 6 years and highlights the strong level of interest in health literacy in the healthcare environment in Ireland. Health literacy involves a person being able to understand basic health information whether they receive it in writing, in person or over the phone. It also involves a person having the knowledge to understand their options and make informed decisions about their own health.

Ms Ciara O’Rourke, Director, Access, Policy & Communications, MSD, and judge of the awards commented, “This is the sixth year of the Crystal Clear awards and the shortlisted entries highlight the remarkable work being done all across the healthcare sector to better inform people about their health. The recent EU Health Literacy survey proves that the more people understand their health, the better their health will be.¹  All the judges are pleased to see the continued commitment in the healthcare sector to health literacy and would like to extend our congratulations to all those shortlisted.”

Also speaking at the announcement of the shortlist was Inez Bailey, Director of the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA), who said, “With almost 130 entries into the Crystal Clear Awards again this year, it is clear that a lot is being done on the topic of health literacy. It shows that healthcare professionals are making great efforts to communicate in a clear, easy-to-understand way, using innovative approaches and rephrasing any specialised terms in plain English. We would like to commend all those who have taken the time to enter the awards. We would also like to offer our congratulations to all those shortlisted projects and have no doubt that they will inspire others working in this area.”

The Awards are a partnership between MSD and NALA with representation on the judging panel from the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), Irish Practice Nurse Association (IPNA), UCD, a General Practice and NALA. The media partner to the awards is Irish Medical Times.

For further information on the Crystal Clear MSD Health Literacy Awards, log onto www.healthliteracy.ie.

Crystal Clear Awards -Shortlist 2013

Best Project in General Practice

• School of Medicine, University College Cork (UCC).  ‘CLAS- mobile application ‘

• Carlton Clinic. ‘Making Health Promotion Information Accessible through our General Practice ‘

• Morehampton Clinic. ‘Vasectomy the Facts-DVD’

Best Project in a Hospital

•Radiation Oncology Department, Cork University Hospital (CUH). ‘Understanding Radiation Therapy & the Patient Pathway’

• St. Vincent’s University Hospital (SUVH). ’Introducing the New National Descriptors for modified fluids & food’

• Memory Clinic, St Patrick’s Hospital. ‘Person Centred Dementia Assessment Services ‘

Best Project in the Community or in a Social Setting

• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland. ‘Know your right’s

• Wexford South Sector Community Mental Health Team. ‘A Key to Recovery’

•Primary Care Psychology Waterford.  HSE- Waterford.  ‘Stress Control ‘

Best Health Promotion Project

•Marie Keating Foundation / Kare / Brothers of Charity. ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Program for Women with Intellectual Disabilities’

•The National Poisons Information Centre, Beaumont Hospital.  ‘Say No To Poisons’

• HSE & DAD (Dementia Aware Donegal) Consortium. ‘Dear Grandma’

Best Health Communication through Journalism

•Deirdre Veldon,  Health + Family, The Irish Times. ’The Mental Health Issue ‘

•Dr Nina Byrnes, ‘Regular Medical Slot on Ryan Tubridy on 2FM May 2012’

•Paul Cullen, The Irish Times Health Correspondent. ‘Consultants – A Dirty Word?’