Quality standard

Quality statement 4: Awareness of Lyme disease

Quality statement 4: Awareness of Lyme disease

Quality statement

Local authorities organise health promotion activities with organisations in their area to raise public awareness about how to prevent Lyme disease.

Rationale

Increasing public knowledge of Lyme disease and how to reduce the risk of infection will help to prevent Lyme disease. This includes raising awareness of tick habitats, which is important because infected ticks can be found throughout the UK, including urban parks. Information to support prevention should also include recommended methods of tick removal, checking the skin for ticks, wearing clothes that do not expose the skin and using tick repellents. Engagement with a range of local organisations (including NHS organisations) will encourage prevention, raise the profile of Lyme disease and address local needs.

Quality measures

Structure

a) Evidence that local authorities have organised activities to promote awareness of how to prevent Lyme disease.

Data source: Local data collection, for example, records of implementation plans, which could include using material from Public Health England's toolkit and resources for local authorities.

b) Evidence that local authorities have worked with organisations in their area to promote awareness of how to prevent Lyme disease.

Data source: Local data collection, for example, records of agreements with organisations, which could include agreeing to display material from Public Health England's toolkit and resources for local authorities.

Outcome

Levels of public awareness of how to prevent Lyme disease after locally driven health promotion activities.

Data source: Local data collection, for example, results from surveys and questionnaires.

What the quality statement means for different audiences

Public health practitioners ensure that they implement local authority awareness-raising activities about the potential risks of tick bites and Lyme disease, and how to reduce the risk. Activities could include providing up-to-date leaflets, posters for display in local GP practices, online information (including social media) and organising outreach events tailored to local needs. Activities are timed to coincide with periods associated with a higher risk of tick exposure, and with other relevant local public health events. Existing resources are available from Public Health England's toolkit and resources for local authorities and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Lyme disease toolkit.

Commissioners (local authorities) ensure that they provide up-to-date, consistent and coordinated information about Lyme disease, such as Public Health England's toolkit and resources for local authorities and the RCGP Lyme disease toolkit, to raise awareness of the potential risks of tick bites and tick-borne disease, and how to reduce the risk. They work with organisations, such as local NHS organisations, organisations involved in leisure and recreation, and community groups to raise awareness of Lyme disease.

People in the community can find out about Lyme disease and how to prevent it through events and information provided by local organisations.

Source guidance

Lyme disease. NICE guideline NG95 (2018), recommendation 1.1.3

Equality and diversity considerations

Information should be in a format that suits people's needs and preferences. It should accessible to people who do not speak or read English, and it should be culturally appropriate and age appropriate.

For people with additional needs related to a disability, impairment or sensory loss, information should be provided as set out in NHS England's Accessible Information Standard.