Connecting Communities; ‘Health on the Go’ with local partners at Morrisons.
The Melissa double decker NHS bus is designed to deliver healthcare education and training across the North-East and North Cumbria. We raised awareness and the importance of the NHS app, understanding barriers and pathways for support to ensure everyone remains connected.
Discussions continued to mirror previous engagements, with a split in opinions across community demographics. Many of the younger population expressed the major benefits with the app, and the seamlessness in ordering repeat prescriptions and managing healthcare appointments, whilst the older population described barriers such as lack of digital literacy and preference to traditional methods due to perceived safety issues. One individual explained how they have never owned a smartphone but does not want to be cut-off from healthcare information.
Such discussions highlight the importance of accessible healthcare systems. While there were general awareness of the NHS App and its role in supporting healthcare, some individuals lack the digital skills needed to use mobile applications effectively. This emphasises the need for further exploration into how information can remain accessible to all, particularly as services continue to shift towards digital platforms.
