A new website is launched today at <http://www.hiquality.org.uk>. The site, Hi Quality, aims to raise quality standards for health information. With funding from the Department of Health, Hi Quality has been developed as part of C-H-i-Q's innovative quality assurance programme, recently implemented across all public digital TV pilot services for the NHS.

Hi Quality is a direct response to NHS commitment to improve the quality of information for patients. It is based on C-H-i-Q's three principles, that information should be accurate, clear and relevant.

For the public, Hi Quality is a resource for checking the quality of health information. For professionals, Hi Quality offers guidance for attaining quality standards.

"We all want to have confidence in information about our health. This can be achieved by testing the quality of the information ourselves, or simply through the knowledge that it has been tested. The Hi Quality website has been designed to assist public and professionals in ensuring health information is accurate, clear and relevant." Tom Hain, Manager of C-H-i-Q.

Hi Quality also introduces a new kitemarking service aiming to maximise public confidence in health information. The "TriangleMark" is awarded to information that meets C-H-i-Q standards. This kitemarking service is in response to the recommendations of the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry which calls for such a system to be introduced.