NHS Trusts and Walsall College closing digital skills gap by promoting App

Walsall College is helping the local NHS encourage more residents to access NHS services digitally.  The college is delivering short training sessions to help people unfamiliar with smart devices to download and navigate their way through the NHS App.

From booking appointments to viewing medical records and receiving local Covid-19 updates, the NHS App ensures everyone has access to the services they need at the click of a button.

Amanda Davies, Curriculum Manager for Essential Skills at the college said: “Through our adult and community provision, the college understands how a lack of digital understanding prevents people from accessing jobs, community services and individual support.

“24% of people in the region currently do not possess all of the basic digital skills, such as carrying out online transactions and managing personal information*.  Language barriers, health impairments and disabilities can also limit people’s awareness of the benefits of online technologies.

“Our two-hour sessions are designed to reduce the digital fear factor.  They show how easy, quick and safe it is to use platforms like the NHS App, giving everyone the confidence and means to get healthcare help, as and when they need it.”

Mike Hastings, Chief Information and Operations Officer for NHS Black Country and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Reducing health inequalities is one of the CCG’s most important priorities, and helping people to get equal access to all NHS services – including those delivered digitally or online – is a really crucial part of this.

“We’re excited to be working with Walsall College to develop these innovative bite-sized training sessions, which are free, available to all, and give you a recognised qualification in IT.

“We’re already working with other further education providers at local and national level, and aim to make these courses the blueprint for helping people across Walsall and beyond to get the most out of the NHS’s fantastic digital services.”

The college’s digital training sessions are available online or at the Hawbush Campus.  For further details, call 01922 657000 or register your interest here.

*Exploring the UK’s digital divide Office for National Statistics