Bupa joins Government initiative to improve patient information

Bupa is leading the way with a new Government ‘kite mark' to help guide people on the quality of health information from health and social care providers.

The Department of Health chose Bupa to help test a new information accreditation scheme and become one of its first members when it is launched in 2009.

The programme aims to guide people in finding the most reliable sources of information about their health. Feedback from medical experts and patients will be included in the accreditation process. Those who meet the standard will be awarded a ‘kite mark' highlighting it as a trustworthy source.

Dr Annabel Bentley, Bupa's assistant medical director and a member of the Department of Health expert working group for the information accreditation scheme, said: "We welcome this scheme as it will provide a recognisable quality mark which everyone can look out for. When they see it people will know the information can be trusted. It will also help doctors to direct their patients to reliable sources.

"With so much health information available, it can be bewildering for people to know where to go to for the best advice. The internet is a brilliant resource, but there is no independent watchdog so it can be potentially dangerous for people to rely on it completely for medical guidance.

"We take the quality of the information we publish very seriously. The health information section of Bupa's website has more than 1.2 million visits each month and our insurance customers also have access to a 24-hour nurse helpline."

The network of test organisations covers the commercial, public and voluntary sectors. Bupa is one of 40 companies to join the scheme and only one of five from the commercial sector. These include the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Group, Patient UK and The Royal College of Psychiatrists.

For further details on the information accreditation scheme visit the Patient Choice section of dh.gov.uk