Digital inclusion survey report

Healthwatch Nottingham & Nottinghamshire undertook a survey to gain a greater understanding of people’s use of Information Technology to access health and social care information. Their aim was to understand how people who already had access to the internet were choosing to use digital technology to assist in their health and care.

The main findings of this survey were:

• Majority of the respondents had access to the internet, owned a smart phone/tablet, and used applications on these devices.
• Over half wanted to access GP appointments via online video and monitor their health conditions online or access a link to local services or support.
• Although nearly two thirds of people already had access to GP appointments by booking them over the telephone, a further quarter of respondents wanted the same.
• The way in which information is provided is not always easy to understand, with one fifth of people reporting that they only understand health and care information sometimes.

The report contains four recommendations for healthcare providers to:

• increase the use of technology to access health and social care information while maintaining face-to-face services to ensure equal access for all;
• explore the reasons why people are reluctant to use online video links to access GP appointments;
• ensure that health and care information is easier to understand for all and consider providing plain English summary;
• promote the use of technology to access health and social care information by supporting training especially for specific groups of people, for example, older or disabled people.