This week’s message is sent from Ian Holmes, West Yorkshire and Harrogate Sustainability Transformation Partnership Director. You can find out more about our STP here.
Hello my name is Ian and welcome to the STP message for this week.
The use of digital technology and the positive impact it makes to people’s lives never fails to amaze me on both a personal and professional level. You don’t need to look far to see the difference it is already making across WY&H in terms of driving efficiency and most importantly meeting people’s information needs. A good example of this can be seen in the use of telehealth services with residents at a Leeds care home. Telehealth enables people to talk directly to senior nurses and doctors – to allow remote assessment of peoples’ condition. The technology also helps reduce the need for hospital admissions as any potential health issues can be identified early and treated within the care home where possible. Another example can be seen in the co-production and co-design of UpBeat, an App developed in partnership with people who use mental health services, clinicians and mHabitat. This App encourages people to self-manage their care, where possible, whilst strengthening relationships between patients and clinicians.
With the support of Alistair Cartwright (STP Digital Lead Director) and other colleagues we have also been looking at how we can enable more people to register with a GP, access healthcare records and get medical advice via their tablet or smartphone all in one place.
Keeping this in mind we held a workshop in Halifax today to ask for people’s views on what would benefit them. Around 30 people attended. In particular we looked at how technology can be used to improve care for people with hearing or visual impairments, namely around self-care and access to services.
Held in collaboration with the Good Things Foundation the workshop was part of a national NHS Widening Digital Participation programme, funded by NHS Digital, which aims to reduce digital exclusion in the UK by giving people the skills they need to access information and services more readily. Thanks to all involved, including Kate Henry, Dr Victoria Betton and Laura Kirkbride for helping to make it happen!
WY&H is one of 20 pathfinder sites nationally that is focusing on the needs of people with hearing and/or visual impairments. The programme is supported by experts in the field, such as Molly Watt, a patient leader, usability and accessibility ambassador – who inspires others for a more inclusive world. mHabitat, a Leeds based organisation that specialises in digital innovations in health and social care are also involved.
With more than 100,000 health apps, and much of the UK population now owning a smartphone, the future of digital technology in health care has become a reality and one we want to ensure we embrace to its full potential.
Finally, warm welcome to Catherine Thompson who will be spending half of her working week on the STP supporting the electives work which is part of the Standardisation of Policies Programme. Catherine is currently Experience of Care Lead in the Patient Experience Team at NHS England.