Digital Inclusion Service
Bridging the health inequality gap in Haringey
Digital Inclusion involves the activities necessary to ensure equitable access to use of information and communication technologies for participation in social, finance, social services, health, education etc.
This service sets out to increase digital inclusion for patients attempting to access primary and secondary care services across Haringey.
Our Vision and Goals
Our main goals are as follows:
- Help support those who are digitally excluded
- Educate and train patients on how to use devices and access the internet for various health solutions and more
- Reduce health inequality gaps in Haringey
When did the service launch and where is it based?
- The service launched in February 2024
- Operating hours: Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm
- The service is boroughwide and operates from Haringey libraries and community centres, including:
- Hornsey Library
- Marcus Garvey Library
- Wood Green Library
- Northumberland Park Resource Centre
How does the service work?
Six different workstreams are undertaken which each boost digital inclusion in different ways. These are:
- Staff workshops – These help upskill both community based and practice based staff on digital exclusion. Learning is centred around identifying digitally excluded people and where to refer them on for further support.
- Single Point of Access – The service acts as a SPOA for Haringey residents. It does this by receiving referrals from GP Practices, community centres, Haringey Council, social prescribers, hospitals and others.
- 1 on 1 Sessions – These sessions help patients build basic digital skills. Patients are also assisted in setting up patient access and/or similar digital health solutions.
- Group Sessions – We work with small groups to teach how to use devices to unlock Patient Access and other similar digital solutions.
- Patient workshops – These take place at community buildings like libraries, community centres and leisure parks. They provide patients with valuable information and education.
- Partnership working – With practices, community centres and Haringey Council to map digital inclusions services in Haringey. Training takes place on what the Digital Inclusion Service is and how different organisations can work collaboratively to support it.
- Onward referrals – Referrals to relevant services are utilised. For example: council services, employment services, community services etc
How can you support the service?
- Code patients with the “digital exclusion” code
- Available on EMIS to add to patient records
- This helps us identify patients who are digitally excluded
- We then contact these patients offering our service
- Promote the service
- We have promotional material that outlines our service, what we offer and how to contact us
- These can be displayed in Haringey GP Practices
- Integrating patient access with registering new patients
- Integrating digital inclusion questions
- Do you know we have an online presence?
- How confident are you in using the internet to book appointments, ordering repeat prescriptions, consulting with your GP online, etc. ?
- Make every contact count
- Create opportunities to ask patients whether you can provide patient access
- Understand what Haringey GP practices offer online
- When are appointments released?
- What type of appointments can be booked?
- Do you have an online triage process?
Contact Details and Team Members
- Senior At Scale Service Manager: Joshua.Cobbson@nhs.net
- At Scale Service Manager (Main point of contact) - solomon.smith1@nhs.net
- Care Navigator - vincent.kennedy@nhs.net
- Care Navigator - morsheda.sharmin@nhs.net