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Collaboration delivers digital inclusion in Denbighshire

September 12th 2024

People in Denbighshire are gaining the skills and confidence they need to use digital tools like the NHS Wales App.

The Digital Services for Patients and the Public (DSPP) Programme at DHCW which is developing the App, have been working closely with Digital Communities Wales and Digital Confidence Denbighshire to help people in the area get set up and start using the App’s features. The NHS Wales App and its accompanying website offer easy access to a range of health and care services.

Up to 9% of the population of Denbighshire is not online, compared to 7% nationally. This means many people in the area cannot access essential services and face the risk of digital exclusion. This could potentially lead to reduced or delayed access to care, disparities in health outcomes and, increased social inequality. To address this, Cwmpas delivers a number of Digital Inclusion initiatives across Wales, the Digital Confidence Denbighshire (DCD) project, which is funded through the UK Government’s Shared prosperity until the end of December 2024, and the Welsh Government Digital Communities Wales Digital Inclusion programme, which runs until June 2025. The Digital Confidence Denbighshire programme provides one-on-one digital support to the public within the local authority area through drop-in sessions, workshops and essential skills courses. They also offer bespoke sessions to introduce people to the NHS Wales App.

DHCW’s Business Change Facilitators as part of the DSPP Engagement Team have supported Cwmpas’ delivery by attending online sessions to provide more in-depth answers to questions specifically about the App.

Since January 2024, Digital Confidence Denbighshire has offered 23 ‘Getting to know the NHS Wales App’ sessions. These sessions help people to get access to the App and use it to manage their health and wellbeing. Participants learn the basics, such as logging in, navigating the App, booking and managing GP appointments and ordering repeat prescriptions, if their GP practice has made these features available.

Feedback from the sessions has been positive, with participants appreciating the face-to-face support. Comments include “It’s been extremely useful”, “Glad that I got onto the App”, “The course was good and easy to understand” “Really useful workshops” and “Very glad I attended”.

Joanna Dundon, National Digital Lead - Public Engagement at DHCW, said: “We are really keen that patients and the public in Wales are able to use the NHS Wales App and not be digitally excluded because of lack of infrastructure or broadband, devices or confidence that most of us may take for granted.  

“By working with Cwmpas’ Digital Inclusion projects such as Digital Confidence Denbighshire and Digital Communities Wales, as well as third sector organisations, NHS Wales and local authorities which have had training from Digital Communities Wales, we have seen that this is a great way of finding and training Digital Champions in our local communities to support and encourage people to pick up a tablet and login to the App. By having champions who are trusted members of their communities means we can ensure this support will help people to feel empowered to look after their health and wellbeing digitally. We have been fortunate in starting to build up links across Wales and hope this will be replicated in all corners of the country.” 

Jocelle Lovell, Director of Inclusive Communities at Cwmpas, said: “Working with Digital Services for Patients and Public, Digital Communities Wales has supported organisations to understand the NHS Wales App, champion its use and support those organisations to support their clients using it. Digital Confidence Denbighshire has been able to offer direct support to citizens in Denbighshire, helping them to enrol on the App and understand how to use it effectively. 

“Access to digital services is vital for all members of our society and it is essential that no citizen is left behind when new services are rolled out. We have been delighted to be able to work with Digital Services for Patients and Public to support them in the roll-out of the NHS Wales App and to ensure that the most vulnerable in our communities have the skills to use it”. 

Several ‘Getting to know the NHS Wales App’ sessions will take place over the next few weeks in Denbighshire:

  • Denbigh Hwb – Monday September 16th, 1-3pm
  • Prestatyn Library – Monday September 30th, 2-4pm
  • Llangollen Library – Wednesday October 2nd, 2:30-4:30pm
  • Naylor Leyland Centre, Ruthin – Friday October 4th, 2-4pm
  • Corwen Library – Monday October 21st, 2:30-4:30pm

You can book a workshop through the Digital Confidence Denbighshire website, by emailing dcdenbighsire@cwmpas.coop or by calling 03001115050 and choosing option 2.

To learn more about how you can help others adopt the NHS Wales App, visit the NHS Wales App resource centre.