Agenda item
Health and Wellbeing Story - the impacts of digital exclusion
- Meeting of Online 'Virtual' Meeting, Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board, Tuesday, 2nd February, 2021 5.00 p.m. (Item 2.)
- View the background to item 2.
The Board will receive a verbal presentation about the impact of ‘digital service delivery on service users’.
Minutes:
The Board received a presentation that outlined how the move across the partnership to digital service delivery is impacting on users, also a number of residents talked about their own experiences including access to devices, access to the internet and their skills in using devices.
The main points arising from the discussion on the findings and learning across the partnership may be summarised as follows:
The Board:
v Were advised how the Tower Hamlets Community and Voluntary Sector (CVS) has been delivering a digital project commissioned by Tower Hamlets Together (THT) covering community insights, training, access to devices and personalisation.
v Commented about (i) the innovations such as the smartphone applications for those who are living with a hearing-impairment; (ii) how they have helped Deaf BSL patients; and (iii) that in hospitals and in general practice the pandemic has highlighted how important it is to ensure that appropriate reasonable adjustments must be made to ensure that the required digital infrastructure must be in place to support patients with a sensory impairment.
v Wanted to see all service providers to taking steps or make “reasonable adjustments” to avoid putting any patient with disabilities at a substantial disadvantage when compared to a person who is not disabled.
v Expressed concern that not all health care professionals in hospitals/general practice apparently were not fully aware of (i) the BSL interpreter booking process or how to use; and (ii) the BSL online remote access that allows persons with a sensory impairment who use BSL to use video equipment to communicate with voice telephone users.
v Wanted assurances that the right technological solutions were in place to support all health care professionals in hospitals/general practice in in Tower Hamlets and that health care professionals were aware of the available infrastructure and how to use it.
v Expressed concern that the myGP app that allows people to book and cancel appointments is not apparently accessible for all patients with a sensory impairment. Which is a real barrier and requires the patient to set up an online account which required the patient to have an e-mail address.
v The Board indicated that it wished to see that appropriate adjustments are made to ensure that (i) the required digital infrastructure is in place; and (ii) staff trained and made aware to support patients with a sensory impairment.
v The Board wanted to see the promotion of BSL as a language in an education setting” with each child starting primary school in LBTH to learn BSL from KS1 to KS4 as additional language. The Board wanted to see key stakeholders from sign language and from education to explore how BSL could be sustainably taught in the Borough’s mainstream school with the aim for an inclusive community where Deaf BSL pupils can communicate in BSL with their friends, peers, and staff.
v The Board wanted to see ways to address the digital divide in the Borough the pandemic having highlighted that those who are unable to access the internet find themselves cut off from access to services and advice, as many services and day-to-day activities having moved online because of the Coronavirus. However, not everyone is able to use the Internet because it was not a part of their everyday lives until now. The Board was pleased to see that the East London Age UK has developed a Digital Buddy programme to help older residents gain these new skills and access essential online services with support and training from experienced volunteers and staff. As part of the programme the residents also get a Huawei Media Pad with a data package currently provided by O-2.
v The Board felt that digital inclusion and affordability are key issues for many older residents and the partner agencies should explore (i) how they can most effectively leverage support from internet providers for the digital inclusion agenda; and (ii) mechanisms for mitigating costs for older residents.
In conclusion, the Chair thanked everybody for their presentations and contributions to the discussions on this issue.
The Chair then indicated that she would discuss with the Vice-Chair and officers look at the barriers or issues that impact the ability of the Borough’s more vulnerable residents to access the internet.
Supporting documents:
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Item 2. Digital exclusion_cover sheet (1), item 2.
PDF 216 KB
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Item 2. Appendix 1 Digital inclusion_summary page (2), item 2.
PDF 192 KB
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HWBB 2.2.2021Digital Inclusion, item 2.
PDF 58 KB