Libraries in England to promote the NHS App
From October 2024, libraries in England will be able to help people use the NHS App and NHS.UK
NHSE will provide toolkits and information to public libraries and NHS libraries
The initiative aims to reach people who face barriers accessing their health information online
NHS England has announced plans to work with libraries to help more people access online health services and use the NHS App.
The scheme will launch in October 2024 in partnership with the National Health Literacy Partnership, which brings together the national NHS Knowledge and Library Services team at NHSE, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), Libraries Connected, and Arts Council England.
NHSE will provide toolkits and information to public libraries and NHS libraries, so that staff can help people to use the NHS App and NHS.UK to better understand and manage their health.
John Quinn, chief information officer at NHSE, said: “Public libraries are at the heart of our communities and offer a significant opportunity to reach those who face barriers when it comes to accessing their health information online.
“The NHS App has more than 34 million registered users and we want to ensure no-one is excluded from using this service.”