Poll reveals that many MPs feel ‘bamboozled’ by NHS jargon

Former health minister says ‘health service at all levels must adopt a plain English approach’

The NHS should reduce its use of jargon so that MPs can scrutinise health policies more thoroughly, researchers have advised.

Two thirds of the 108 MPs polled by market research company YouGov say they do not understand the concept of holistic care, while just 12% say the language used to describe ongoing changes in the NHS is simple and easy to understand.

Timely publication

The results of the poll, which was commissioned by public affairs company MHP Communications, were released today to coincide with a round-table discussion being held at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.

Other findings include:

• Just over half (55%) of MPs surveyed felt sufficiently well-informed to scrutinise healthcare issues in parliament.
• Only a quarter (26%) said they understood the term ‘accountable care organisations’, despite it being used more than 80 times in parliament since January 2016. An ACO is an NHS provider or group of providers that takes responsibility for the healthcare provision of a population, including commissioning services.
• Just 27% understood what ‘system transformation’ meant.

The research follows a report released by the cross-party health and social care committee in June, which called on the government and the NHS to improve how they communicate health service reforms to the public.

Worrying findings

Former health minister Paul Burstow, who is an adviser to MHP Communications and chair of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘These poll findings point to a worrying communications gap, with MPs feeling bamboozled by NHS speak.

‘The health service at all levels must adopt a plain English approach, so that MPs, and the public they represent, better understand the challenges and the choices available.’

MHP Communications head of health Kate Pogson said: ‘The best communications ultimately lead to improved outcomes for patients. This is a shared endeavour: all of us working in the sector have a responsibility to explain concepts clearly.’

Further information

• Read the MHP Communications report on NHS jargon 
• Read the health and social care committee’s report

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