Easy Reads: every patient deserves information they can understand

Summary

Elizabeth Wood is an Editor at EIDO Healthcare, who manages the production of their Easy Reads. In this blog, she explains what an Easy Read is, and why accessible, written information is critical to fighting inequality. Elizabeth offers advice on where to find Easy Reads, and who can support you to create them. 

Content

“The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding.” Leonardo da Vinci [1]

Imagine this; your doctor has just told you that you need an operation. You’re told this operation has complications, and potential consequences for the rest of your life.

You’re overwhelmed but feel reassured when the doctor hands you a leaflet, saying it will help you understand what’s going to happen. Except, you don’t understand it.

There’s too much text, words you don’t recognise and pictures of people who look nothing like you. Now, you’re not just overwhelmed. You’re confused and scared.

No patient should feel like this. Everyone deserves information they can comprehend that helps them make an informed decision about their health and care.

That’s where Easy Reads come in.

What is an Easy Read?

An Easy Read is a way of making written information clearer for people with learning disabilities, and people who struggle with reading, writing, or remembering things. They’re also useful for patients who don’t speak English as their first language.

The key difference between an Easy Read and other patient advice is in the level of detail. The language is simpler, shorter and easier to follow. Unless it’s essential, medical jargon is left out of an Easy Read. If it has to be included, it’s always explained in simple terms.

There are often pictures next to each statement, making the leaflet more accessible and engaging.

Websites like Photosymbols are a great resource, because they use models who have learning disabilities themselves. This is important to help patients relate to what they’ve read and feel reassured.

Written information remains important

Written information isn’t a substitute for a meaningful conversation between a doctor and their patient. However, studies show that patients can forget a staggering 40-80% of what they’re told during a consultation.[1] It’s vital they have something they can refer back to and process in their own time.

In the UK, 1.5 million people are living with a learning disability.[2] That’s a lot of people left severely disadvantaged if they don’t understand what they’ve been told.

Presenting patients with learning disabilities with information they can really process isn’t just a tick box – as laid out in the Equality Act 2010, it’s the law.[3]

Easy Reads should always be available. There’s some great stuff already out there but there can always be more.

Online information can lead to exclusion

The government’s drive to progress much of our healthcare from analogue to digital means the NHS is becoming increasingly digitally led; with fewer paper forms being printed, more online consultations and an increase in investment in digital health.[4]

Assuming that patients can use health services online relies on several factors, including:

1. the patient having access to the internet
2. the patient wanting to access the information online, and
3. websites and apps catering to their needs; written in a way they can understand, with features like screen reader and alt text enabled where necessary.

If we’re not careful, the move to digital could lead to widespread areas of exclusion. This is especially a concern for individuals with learning disabilities.

“[n]early half of people with complex disabilities face exclusion as they struggle to access and engage with services online.”[5]

Finding and creating Easy Reads

In a world that’s so fast-paced it can feel impossible to make sure no one gets left behind. But fear not! It’s easier than you think to make information accessible.

Creating an Easy Read isn’t just about tweaking existing information – in most cases a full rewrite is needed.

This is where accessible information organisations like Making it Clear, or the learning disability charity Mencap are great to work with when creating the resource from scratch. We also have a range of procedure-specific Easy Reads at EIDO Healthcare, which I am responsible for.

The NHS has a number of free Easy Reads, as well as various articles on how best to support those with learning disabilities and impairments, as laid out in the ‘Accessible Information Standard’.

When writing, it’s crucial you remember who you’re writing for. This is when user testing and focus groups come in handy.[1] Patients can tell you about their specific needs, what issues they may have with the content and how to ensure the leaflet is truly a resource that helps them when they need it most.

Easy Reads help the patient and those who support them, like friends, family, or care workers, understand the proposed procedure and make decisions together.

This is how we work in partnership with patients. This is how we fight inequality and ensure their trust and safety.

References

[1] Kessels RP. Patients' memory for medical information. J R Soc Med. 2003 May;96(5).

[2] Mencap. How common is learning disability in the UK? Accessed online 1/12/2025.

[3] Mencap. How common is learning disability in the UK? Accessed online 1/12/2025. 

[4] Department of Health and Social Care. 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future. 3/7/25.

[5] Sense. Potential and Possibility 2024. Accessed online 1/12/25. 

[6] The Information Access Group. The benefits of user research in Easy Read. Accessed online 1/12/25.