The Digital Inclusion Workstream is supporting our communities to ensure that no-one is left behind, and that the benefits of the internet and digital technologies are available to everyone accessing health and care services across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
Statistics show that an estimated 7.8% of UK adults (4.2 million people) have either never used the internet, or last used it over 3 months ago (Office for National Statistics, 2020). Furthermore, an alarming 21% of UK adults, or 11 million people, do not have the essential digital skills needed for day-to-day life.
NHS England’s inclusive digital framework is designed to help staff enable and encourage greater access to and improved experiences of healthcare, and increased adoption of digital approaches where that’s appropriate. The framework identifies five domains where action is needed to improve digital inclusion:
Across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, we have adopted these as our core principles for delivering digital inclusion.
In a world where technology has increasingly become the default method for accessing everything from information and public services, to entertainment and communication, the Digital Inclusion workstream is closing the gap by reducing health inequalities and ensuring socio-economic factors do not disadvantage access to digital services in our region.
By offering the digital skills, confidence and motivation to access digital technology, the Digital Inclusion workstream provides an important lifeline for people that are otherwise excluded from using digital technology. Our projects support local communities to get online and become more confident using the digital tools that can support their health and care needs – and as a result, improve access to a wider range of local public health services.
Our early work showed a great way to engage with and support people was to adopt an approach of taking digital support to citizens.
In 2022, the role of Digital Inclusion Co-ordinators was introduced with the purpose of having dedicated physical resources embedded within Primary Care Network (PCN) community footprints. More recently, the role has been adopted by other partners and expanded into secondary care.
The Digital Inclusion Co-ordinators’ help citizens and staff take a more active role in managing their health, care and wellbeing. They provide a proactive support offering to encourage increased adoption of system-wide digital
healthcare tools (such as the NHS App), particularly with those who would benefit most from access to digital health services.
As well as supporting primary / secondary care, they work in partnership with pharmacies, CVS organisations, libraries and local jobcentres to deliver digital skills support sessions.
If you feel you could benefit from this support, enquire if the service is available with your GP Surgery who will be able to signpost you to your local Digital Inclusion Coordinator, where appropriate. You can also email sfh-tr.nottsdigitalinclusion@nhs.net and your query will be sent to the relevant team.
Take a read of a day in the life of a digital inclusion co-ordinator.
Organisations who are embedded within local communities, already supporting individuals in other aspects of their daily lives are best placed to help those who are digitally excluded.
People need trusted, familiar faces who can offer tailored support at the right time. This is why we collaborate with Community and Voluntary Service (CVS) organisations who are passionate about driving social change by helping people to improve their skills and confidence to thrive in a digital world.
Our CVS Collaboration project offers grants to local community groups or community and voluntary service organisations to embed digital skills support into their work.
Projects run for a minimum of 6 months and have a focus on reaching out to the most vulnerable and excluded people across our region.
To date the CVS collaboration project has worked with a total of 11 organisations since 2020. Throughout this time, we have awarded grant funding to support digital skills and confidence building for our local population in the heart of their communities.
When health and care staff don’t have the knowledge and confidence to use digital healthcare tools themselves, they are unlikely to champion their benefits to their patients and citizens.
At the same time, our workforce plays an important role in helping people to better understand and monitor their health and wellbeing, particularly when communicating information in an accessible and effective way.
Up to 6 in 10 of the adult population struggles to understand health information.
This means employees working in health and social care who are ‘health literacy aware’ can better support those they work with.
Staff across Nottingham and Nottingham can enrol onto a bespoke Health and Digital Literacy Course and improve and develop their own skills to better support local people. Why not find out more about what courses are available for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICS Staff? Click here to get started.
The digital health champions network is a team of health and care staff that are passionate about championing digital services. These individuals have been trained up to develop their digital skills and understand the benefits of getting online in order to help others.
Staff and volunteers across health, care and community organisations throughout Nottingham and Nottingham can learn how to:
Are you passionate about helping others and want to develop your own skills to better support local people? Why not register to become a Digital Champion? Find out more about what this means, and the courses on offer here [add link].
The digital inclusion work with Essential Baby Co and their HaPPIE Academy aims to enhance access to digital healthcare and improve digital literacy. This initiative focuses on five key areas: access to devices and data, accessibility, skills and capability, beliefs and trust, and leadership and partnerships. The goal is to reduce digital inequality and ensure everyone can benefit from digital health advancements.
Bassetlaw Action Centre (BAC) is helping Bassetlaw citizens improve their digital literacy by assisting them with downloading, registering, and using the NHS App. This support enabled Mr “O” to manage his prescriptions and complete a capability to work questionnaire. Now confident in using the app, Mr “O” plans to continue using it for his health needs. BAC’s efforts are fostering a digitally inclusive community by ensuring everyone can benefit from online health services.
Earlier this week, colleagues from Digital Notts hosted another successful digital champions training session for patient representatives in Mansfield.
Self Help UK empowers older adults like June with essential digital skills, helping them stay connected and boost their self-esteem. June’s journey highlights the importance of accessible digital training to combat loneliness and digital exclusion.
The Framework Digital Inclusion Team is helping those in need by recycling devices and distributing free SIM cards. This support enabled Glen, who faced communication challenges, to re-enter treatment and start rehab. Donating an old phone can transform lives and offer hope to those struggling.
Digital Notts’ community and voluntary service (CVS) Collaboration project aims to partner with local community groups or CVS organisations across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, looking to embed digital skills support into their work.
Interview: a day in the life of a Digital and Social Inclusion Coordinator Here in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, we’re using the NHS App as our
Are you passionate about promoting health and digital literacy to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities? Do you want to learn how to improve your communication with those you support?
News More funding available to support Community and Voluntary Services Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Applications are now open for new Community and Voluntary Service (CVS) organisations
