Lyme Disease Action is awarded The Information Standard quality mark

Dec. 6, 2011 - PRLog -- Lyme Disease Action (LDA), a UK charity, has been certified as a provider of high-quality health and social care information by The Information Standard scheme. LDA met in full the scheme’s criteria of producing safe and reliable health and social care information. The organisation has consequently been awarded The Information Standard quality mark, which it can display on its literature and website, illustrating to the public that its information can be trusted implicitly.

According to a survey carried out by The Information Standard¹, the majority of the general public (72%) believe that they would be better able to manage their own and their family’s health if they had quick and easy access to health information they could trust. The Information Standard, which is supported by the Department of Health, was launched to provide exactly this kind of assurance.

Angela Coulter, PhD, Hon FFPH, Hon FRCGP, an independent healthcare analyst who advises on the scheme, commented: “Organisations that become certified members of the scheme, and therefore display The Information Standard quality mark on their health information or social care materials, have proven that they adhere to the very highest standards of information production. The public can feel confident that, if they see The Information Standard quality mark on health and social care websites or leaflets, then the information can be trusted and relied upon.”

Stella Huyshe-Shires, Chair of LDA, said of its certification: “Balanced information on Lyme disease is hard to come by because of the controversy that exists over diagnosis and treatment. LDA’s certification means that both doctors and patients can use our information knowing that it is accurate, impartial, evidence-based, balanced, accessible and well-written.  We are proud to have passed such stringent checks.”

Any organisation that produces health and social care information can apply to become a certified member of the scheme.

Lyme Disease Action (http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk) is a charity striving for greater awareness of Lyme disease and associated tick-borne diseases.

[1] Results taken from a survey conducted on behalf of The Information Standard scheme of 2,100 people in England in November 2010.

Ends
6 December 2011

Notes to Editors:

1) A Lyme disease poster, showing how to remove a tick correctly, and leaflets on Lyme disease, are available for publication if required or for readers to take to their own local GP or veterinary practice. A fact sheet is also available. Tick removers can be ordered via the Lyme Disease Action website and cost from £4.99 including P&P.  

2) The Information Standard is a certification scheme for health and social care information. It is an independent scheme supported by the Department of Health. Any organisation that produces health and social care information can apply to join the scheme. If an organisation successfully meets the quality criteria of the standard and becomes certified, it can place the quality mark on its materials. The quality mark is a quick and easy way for the public to identify reliable and trustworthy sources of information. The scheme’s certified members are a mix of national charities, NHS organisations, voluntary, statutory and commercial organisations. The scheme is growing as organisations are in the process of gaining certification. For further information please visit www.theinformationstandard.org.  

Press:  Issued by Lyme Disease Action’s press office (www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk). For more information, or to speak to Stella Huyshe-Shires, the Chair of Lyme Disease Action, please contact Sue Ockwell or Helena Hamlyn via email - press@lymediseaseaction.org.uk - or ring 020 8891 4440.

# # #

Travel PR is one of the leading travel PR agencies in the UK with over 30 clients covering trade associations, hotels, tour operators and tourist boards.