Content guide

How to write for digital NHS services.

This guide is for anyone creating content for the NHS, to help make things clear and consistent across all of our services.

It's meant as a guide, not a rulebook. You're welcome to adapt a style pattern if it does not meet your users' needs.

Check the GOV.UK A to Z style guide and GOV.UK content design guide for any points of style that you do not find here.

If it's not there, talk to colleagues on the #content channel on the service manual public Slack or email the service manual team to see if anyone has any experience of or research insight into the issue.

More about the way we work

Listen to a BBC radio interview about content design and the NHS website.

Interview: Word of Mouth - NHS language use

Michael Rosen talks with Sara Wilcox, NHS website content designer, and consultant Dr Hugh Rayner, about the words we choose for the NHS website and for letters consultants write to patients