The Royal College of Psychiatrists has been
certified as a quality provider of health and social care
information by The Information Standard – a new certification
scheme for health and social care information.
The College has demonstrated we have the
necessary processes and systems to ensure our information meets the
rigorous quality criteria of The Information Standard. We have
consequently been awarded The Information Standard quality mark,
which we can display on our information materials as a mark of
quality and reassurance for the public.
The majority of the general public
(71%)1 feels overwhelmed by the health and
social care information available to them. The Information Standard
was launched by the Department of Health as an initiative to give
the public a quick way of identifying good quality health and
social care information, and to drive up standards amongst
producers.
Angela Coulter PhD, Hon FFPH, Hon FRCGP an
independent healthcare analyst who advises on the scheme commented:
“Those organisations that are able to display The Information
Standard mark will immediately be able to differentiate themselves
from competitors, as producing high quality information that people
can rely upon. The rigorous certification procedure will help to
raise information production standards and inspire confidence in
organisations that they are performing to the highest
standards.”
Deborah Hart, director of communications and
policy at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “The College
has been producing mental health information for almost 20 years.
Our award-winning leaflets provide evidence-based information on
common mental health problems and treatments, and are used by
millions of people in the UK and worldwide. We are delighted to be
recognised as a quality provider of information, meaning people can
be confident that the information produced by the College is always
reliable and up-to-date.”
There are more than 50,000 organisations
producing health and social care information in England. Any of
these can apply to join the scheme and become certified, whether
they are a public sector organisation (NHS or local authority), a
voluntary sector organisation, or a commercial company.
For further information, please contact Liz Fox or Deborah
Hart in the Communications Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127
References:
1. Omnibus survey of 1,000 adults commissioned by DH and carried out by TNS in March 2007
Note to editors:
Find out more about The Information Standard at www.theinformationstandard.org