Everyone agrees that clear communication is essential to delivering safe healthcare and improving patient experience. However, research has shown that there are several obstacles to effective communication. For example, some patients may have learning difficulties whilst others may have a limited understanding of English. Patients receiving treatment may also be unable to speak.

With PictoComm these communication barriers can be greatly reduced – improving patient experience.

Factual evidence that supports why PictoComm™ is needed includes:

• The recent Care Quality Commisison Report, published in September 2011, found that half of NHS hospitals investigated are failing to care for the elderly. Its report concludes that the elderly, who account for almost half of in-patients, are routinely denied the most basic care.
• Between 2003–2005, six people with learning disabilities died while in NHS or local community care. The Six Lives Report provided evidence of significant and distressing failures in service across both health and social care.
• 1.5 million people have a learning disability and there are 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK. The average reading age in the UK is between 9-11 years old.
• Communication problems are also one of the most common effects of a stroke. Losing the ability to speak or understand is frightening and frustrating, and it happens to about a third of people who have a stroke. Each year 110,000 people in the UK have a first stroke, and 30,000 have a recurrent stroke.
• Care and compassion? A report undertaken by the Health Service Ombudsman, found that the NHS is failing to treat elderly patients with care, dignity and respect. Communication was highlighted in the study as an area of primary concern.
• The number of people over 60 could rise by 40% in the next 30 years. 570,000 people in the UK have dementia, which is expected to double over the next 30 years.
• A recent BBC report hightlighted that the NHS spends over £50 Million a year on translation and interpreters.
• Caring for patients with a limited ability to communicate verbally can be stressful, time consuming and risky for health professionals. In recent years, the NHS has made it a priority to better communicate with patients.
• The launch of the Equality Delivery System (EDS) will support the NHS in delivering personal, fair and more diverse health services in the future. All trusts and healthcare organisations are required to implement EDS to improve the way in which people from different groups are treated as service users, carers and employees. By using PictoComm®, trusts will be able to demonstrate the benefit of using non-verbal communication aids to better communicate with people who are most vulnerable and ensure they are treated equally. In short, PictoComm® can help achieve Equality Delivery System compliance.