Lincolnshire Partnership NHS FT has launched seven new digital kiosks in community hubs across Lincolnshire to help reduce health inequalities within the area.
The kiosks provide access to a central resource to support individuals with their health and wellbeing, as well as details on how to contact the Lincolnshire mental health helpline and signposting to activities and groups available through local directories.
Based in Boston, Gainsborough, Grantham, Lincoln, Louth, Holbeach, Mablethorpe, and Spilsby, the kiosks are designed to reduce digital inequalities by improving access to technology – for those without – by offering health and wellbeing information.
The kiosks have been made available through national funding secured by the trust, and will run for two years, followed by an evaluation period to examine whether the technology should remain in the hubs for an extended period.
David Jones, Business Development Manager and Transformation Lead for Digital, commented on the new kiosks: “We have utilised national NHS England funding in an innovative way in partnership with health and social care system colleagues to enable access to digital services in community settings across the county.
“Our delivery partners Pinntec Limited have been excellent in delivering what we need and working with our community sites to install the equipment. We hope the kiosks enable local people to access support and information in different way, as well as providing much needed digital access.”
Steve Skinner, Service Development Lead for Adult Mental Health Community Division, said: “Digital poverty is a significant barrier to some people accessing healthcare how they would like. The addition of the kiosks is important because it increases options for those who would not normally be able to access our services online.”
In other news, Greater Manchester Combined Authority has launched a new pilot scheme supporting care leavers in Salford, by encouraging them to get online.
