Health & Social Care Digital Service

21st January 2014

Thinking differently about health and social care

There has been a rapid increase in the number of UK adults who are active online

Online behaviour

Social media and online banking are two significant uses of the Internet by UK adults

Online behaviour

NHS Choices receives a staggering 36 millionvisits per month

That’s a further 70 visits in the time it took you to read this sentence!

It is a trusted source of information for the public and health professionals

Building upon success

From recent feedback:

Visitors can access the site via mobile without significant data use.

We have a national communication campaign about our plans for more effective NHS data use.

We have published participation guidance and are developing a Patient Leadership Academy

“Don’t use up all of our mobile data allowances or incur costly charges”

“Be clear about how you will use information, keep personal information safe, and support people to understand the data”

“Simplify, using existing channels, use plain English and empower patients”

What is important to users?

The Health & Social Care Digital Service (HSCDS) is a new multi-channel front door to the NHS, public health and social care organisations, delivered through mobile apps, SMS, phone and online channels

A single front door

Our vision

Digital health transactions

It’s a weekend

and Declan

needs medical

attention

His son, Peter,

finds an urgent

care centre

nearby that is

open

The urgent

care centre

nurse patches

Declan up

and

recommends

he sees his

GP

He books an

appointment

online

We’re moving home

and I want to know

which is the best GP

practice for us to

register with.

I’m looking for a

practice that opens in

the evenings, has an

asthma clinic and one

that other people say

they like.

A commitment to transparency

Publishing data in a more meaningful

way for users. e.g. comparison function

in new G.P. choice tool

“Dr Twitter”

People are increasingly

discussing health related issues

on social networking sites

• Twitter is the #1 biggest unified

complaints system in the world!

• Engaging with the public on social

media is a brave but essential

move

• There are some great examples

e.g. Northern Rail

(@northernrailorg)

Genuine listening

I don’t have a

computer at home,

so I didn’t know you

could find this kind

of information on the

web.

Widening digital participation

We are supporting 100,000

people who have not used

the internet, to get online for

health information and

transactions within 2 years

New digital products

New products for March 2014 relate to the following:

• Relieving pressure on primary care and A&E

• Supporting people with dementia and their carers

• Promoting greater transparency and choice

• Encouraging market innovation through the new API and developer network

Discussion