Over 9 million people in the UK don't have access to the internet and 4 million of these are from the most disadvantaged groups including older and disabled people and their carers, minority ethnic groups and those with lower socio-economic status. In a recent study by the Communities and Local Government in 2008, it was found that those who suffer social and digital exclusion are more likely to have recurrent health problems.
NHS Choices has a specially appointed social and digital inclusion team who is committed to reaching these groups and providing them with access to valuable online health information. Our key strategies to address these health disparities include:
- identifying and supporting NHS Choices' community champions including library staff, Citizens Advice Bureau, public health teams, religious leaders, community nurses and other health and social care professionals
- a partnership with IT learning networks and campaigning with organisations such as Race Online 2012, UK online centres and Digital Unite
- cross-government partnerships with Directgov and Post Office Ltd
- using alternative channels such as mobile phone applications, self-assessment kiosks and digital television
Our inclusion partners
Race Online 2012
NHS Choices is proud to be an official partner of Race Online 2012, a landmark national campaign aiming to get the UK as near to 100% internet enabled by the London Olympics 2012. We are working together to inspire and encourage people to get online for the first time.
NHS Choices members, bloggers and forum users regularly testify to the benefits that they have received from being online including improved health and wellbeing and a feeling of inclusion. Derek, one of our COPD bloggers says, “I have always felt that forming a community and sharing our experiences is a great thing to do. I know when my COPD worsened, forcing me to retire from work due to ill health, I felt very alone. I now belong to many online COPD groups – write my own blog, as well for this one – and share my experiences with many others. Together we can learn and help each other. Most of all, not feel as though we are the only ones with this illness”.
NHS Choices believes that everyone is entitled to access to these important social networks and to benefit from the information and support they provide. This is why we are committed to supporting the Race Online 2012 challenge.
If you believe in the power of the internet to improve lives and want to get involved, go to the Race Online 2012 website and sign up to be a partner.
UK online centres
The UK online centres network was set up by government in 2000 to provide public access to computers. It now plays a key role in the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to help improve individual lives, strengthen communities and achieve social inclusion.
There are thousands of UK online centres across England, 84% of which are in the most deprived wards. Those new to computers are introduced to 'myguide', a simple web platform designed to make getting online easy and intuitive.
UK online centres are a key partner for NHS Choices in reaching excluded groups and challenging health inequalities in the most deprived areas. Staff across the 3,500 centres are trained and supported in becoming NHS Choices digital health champions, helping us to support people in making better health choices.
Helping your organisation to reach excluded groups
NHS Choices has a lot of experience in working with organisations to improve health and wellbeing in disadvantaged and hard to reach groups. Our inclusion team specialise in tackling health inequalities through targeted campaigns and events using local services and resources.
We will work with you to co-ordinate bespoke events targeting hard to reach groups with specific health and wellbeing needs. These include black and minority ethnic (BME) groups, older people, the long-term unemployed and other groups with lower socio-economic status. Diabetes, obesity, smoking cessation and healthy eating are some of the campaigns and events that we have delivered to date.
All of our campaigns and events are managed in an inclusive and supportive environment, and we often use local experts and community leaders to support our programmes. Examples of successful campaigns include a healthy eating campaign with the Bengalese community, a chlamydia testing campaign using mobile phone alerts, and a workplace fitness challenge using interactive digital kiosks.
For more information on how we can support your organisation, phone 0207 972 5736 or email us inclusion@nhschoices.nhs.uk.
