Mitigating risks of digital exclusion in Health systems

30/07/2024

In September 2023, NHS England published' inclusive Digital Healthcare: a framework for NHS action on digital inclusion. This was launched by NHSE Health Improvements team, with input from Good Things Foundation, VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance members and others. It aims to help NHS staff enable and encourage greater access to - and improved experience of - healthcare, and increased adoption of digital approaches where appropriate. The framework builds on previous NHS Digital guidance on digital inclusion for health and social care. In this way it supports new requirements under the Health and Care Act 2022 for NHS England and Integrated Care Boards to consider how to reduce inequalities in access to and outcomes from health services. This includes addressing the barriers to digital health faced by some groups.

• The framework has five domains for action. These are:

• Access to devices and data connectivity

• Accessibility and ease of using technology

• Skills and capability(among the pubic and NHS staff)

• Leadership and partnerships

The Framework recognises that:

• Digital inclusion is a whole-of-society issue- it needs collaboration

• Human-centred design is essential for inclusive digital approaches.

• The NHS must keep non-digital healthcare and access alongside digital access

• Some groups face a higher risk of being digitally excluded. These groups also generally face a higher risk of health inequities.

Digital Exclusion in Health Care Systems