We have developed plain language guidelines to help you to communicate clearly.
We use them when writing and speaking to patients and people using our health services.
Plain language is:
- writing and communicating clearly
- explaining medical terms
- using clear structure, layout and design in written information
- using charts and images to help explain numbers and complex information
Why we use plain language
Plain language helps people to access, understand and use our health services. Using plain language helps with health literacy.
Health literacy
Health literacy is about a person’s ability to find, understand and use information to make decisions about their health.
Around 1 in 4 adults in Ireland (28%) have limited health literacy (EU health literacy survey 2021, preliminary findings).
This means they may have difficulties finding or understanding healthcare information. They may also find it difficult to access or use healthcare services.
People with low levels of health literacy may:
- have poor general health
- have longer hospital stays
- use emergency services more often
- go to their GP more often
- have lower life expectancies
The National Adult Literacy Association (NALA) recommends healthcare professionals:
- use less medical terminology - for example, use high blood pressure instead of hypertension
- use everyday language
- take time to explain health advice
We use plain language to make information and services easy to find and understand. This makes it easier for people to make decisions about their health.
Clear information improves the lives of those using our health services. It also shows that we care about health literacy as an organisation.
Why we should use the plain language guidelines
Using these guidelines will:
- improve the quality of communications with people who use our services
- help to create and evaluate our spoken communications and written documents
Our audiences and our messages
Before we write or speak to people who use our services, we:
- listen to them
- think about how and where they get our information
- consider what they are looking for from us
This helps to decide what kind of information might suit our audience, as well as the most suitable ways to share the information.
Think about what you want people to do, think, know or feel after they have gotten your written or spoken information.
Digital content
These guidelines cover speaking and writing in English.
For the HSE website and digital services, we follow a content design process.
The HSE content design team maintains a style guide to ensure we create content in a consistent way. The style guide is for anyone creating content for the HSE.
If you would like access to the style guide, or would like advice for writing digital content, email digital@hse.ie
Communicating in Irish and other languages
These guidelines cover speaking and writing in English.
When writing or speaking in Irish or any other language, please follow the general principles in these guidelines. Use plain language at all times.
We have to meet our legal obligations under the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021.
Irish language guidance and resources for HSE staff
A guide to translating information materials into different languages (PDF, 1 MB, 10 pages)