People struggle to read health advice, report says

Almost one in three working-age adults in Surrey finds it difficult to understand health advice, according to a council report.

The document, due to be discussed by Surrey's Health and Wellbeing Board and Integrated Care Partnership next week, said about 30% of adults aged 16 to 65 fall below the threshold for health literacy.

The figure rises to 37% in Spelthorne, the county's lowest-performing borough, while almost half of residents across Surrey struggle when numeracy is required.

Health literacy is defined as a person's ability to access, understand and use information to make decisions about their health and wellbeing.

The report warned low health literacy was a "significant barrier" to improving health outcomes, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

People with poor health literacy were more likely to struggle to read or understand health information, know what action to take, be admitted to hospital and experience depression, according to the report.

The report added that low health literacy was closely linked to educational disadvantage, deprivation, disability and poorer health outcomes.

A pilot programme called Clearer Care has been set up to help make health information and services easier for people in Surrey to understand.

The scheme will provide guidance and small grants to voluntary and community organisations to run projects aimed at improving health literacy.

Council papers said the programme provided "an important opportunity" to test ways to tackle the issue.

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