The Healthcare Library of Northern Ireland circulated an impact survey to all its members which ran from on 6^th January until 24^th January 2025.  The Library wanted to obtain qualitative feedback on the impact the library service is having on the HSC, so we asked you to tell us what support you had availed off and what impact this had.  We were delighted to receive 224 responses from across all the HSC Trusts and Organisation and from a broad range of the professions.   This produced a rich flavour of feedback of how the library supports and helps HSC professionals.

The areas highlighted in which the library provided support, range from literature searching and training, to providing access to current literature.  However, it was more the impact of the support provided had which provided encouraging and valuable insights.  The Library is clearly an important source of support to HSC professionals.  The impact outlined in the response’s ranges from patient care, keeping up to date, producing guidelines, enabling service improvements or supporting CPD.  It is also clear that our members value the library staff and the personal support that they provide in helping to navigate the resources.  The Library service is seen as an efficient and cost-effective way of accessing what is needed, reducing the stress of obtaining the literature elsewhere. One comment summed it up by saying “I find access to the healthcare library invaluable and essential”.  

Below is a small selection of the range of comments received: –

“Cheered me up how people are happy to help. Reminded me what a useful resource our library is and to make more use of the help available. Thank you . “

“enhance patient care, enhance education programme, ensure evidence base in education delivery “

“Access via the medical library allowed me to efficiently identify the latest evidence so that the patient involved could be informed regarding the safety of their medication “

“I can use my time more efficiently, whilst also ensuring I keep abreast of practice and have up-to-date information when for example, i am treating patients or preparing a business case.” 

“Improved my knowledge and skills which helped with providing care to patients and ideas for service / clinical practice improvements “ 

 “The Healthcare Library, the staff and the support offered is excellent and enriches the learning experience of all that use it.” 

“It was a huge benefit to me in relation to reducing stress, it allowed me to research effectively. The staff are exceptionally helpful and supportive. “

There was also some useful constructive feedback which the Library will also consider to help deliver the service, such as ease of logging in and access to some resources such as more e-books.

The Healthcare Library of Northern Ireland would like to thank all its members who took the time to complete this survey and provide such excellent feedback.  If you wish to provide any further feedback this can be done at any time using the feedback form.  A full report of the survey will be produced for the Department of Health to help demonstrate the value of the library service to the HSC as outlined by those who use it.