What Looking Local can do for you

Health services are essential to every person's life, whether they visit the doctor once a year or are under a regular care programme. Citizens need access to health services and information 24/7, whether at home or on the move and research proves there is a significant number within the population that the web simply does not reach. Already there is a raft of health services available online and Looking Local is working with a range of partners to deliver a holistic health service via DiTV and mobile to those unengaged.

Over 10 million people do not have access to the Internet and older people in particular have less access or will to access the Internet. IPSOS MORI reported that in January 2009, 70% of people aged 65+ had no access to data technology (qualified as Internet or mobile phones with internet access) and only 37% of 65+ used a PC. However 61% of people aged 65+ had access to digital and/or multi-channel TV a number which will only grow as we move towards switchover. In that older people tend to have more health service requirements, this propensity towards DiTV means that the TV should be a key delivery channel for any health organisation.

Looking Local works with a number of health organisations to deliver a local health package, is leading the UK's delivery and research into telecare and telehealth on TV as well as working with an increasing number of NHS Trusts to deliver local healthcare and information;

NHS Choices is a comprehensive information service that helps people take control of their healthcare. The service is intended to help people make choices about their health and inform on the practical aspects of finding and using NHS services in England. Looking Local is one of only a handful of partners able to syndicate this content and make it available to our partners for integration within their services.

The NHS Choices is available to Looking Local viewers across the country and is updated daily, valuable for all age groups and complements our other health partners and services. The current NHS Choices service on Looking Local offers:

• Health A-Z: Containing information on the most common medical conditions and procedures with doctors and health professionals giving their advice and support
• Healthy Living: Guides, tips and information on how we can all live healthier lives
• Health News: Unbiased and evidence-based analysis of health stories that make the news
• Local Health Service Search: Local NHS listings including dentists, GPs, pharmacists and others

Since 2007 Looking Local has offered any GP surgery using EMIS software to allow their patients to be able to book/amend/cancel/view appointments and to order repeat prescriptions. The success of these services has been incredible and is detailed further in our GP Appointments & Repeat Prescriptions Case Study

Looking Local is pioneering work on delivering healthcare, telecare and telehealth services on DiTV, mobile and other consumer electronics that use the TV as an interface as part of a number of national and European initiatives. Initial evaluation delivers a compelling case for delivery of telecare and telehealth services on TV to read this headline research click here(link to new news piece) or click here for further information on our telecare and telehealth projects.

Starthere is a key partner who delivers relevant local health and support information and services via Looking Local. Viewers are able to search information about issues such as health, caring, families, housing, education, employment, benefits, wellbeing and welfare rights, with signposts to hundreds of national and local organisations mostly providing free services.

In Autumn 2010 Looking Local integrated with Patient Opinion to offer their award winning service to homes across the digital divide via TV as well as mobile phones (read more here). This means that people can read the stories and feedback on local health services and be part of the move to update and change services to be more responsive and appropriate for local needs.

Health services are at the heart of every community and with Looking Local offering a range of local services, health organisations are increasingly key partners who are understanding the value that DiTV and mobile can bring to their service delivery and business requirements.

What Looking Local can offer your organisation:

• A cost effective way to deliver key services to an audience the web simply does not reach
• Unrivalled experience in DITV & mobile delivery
• A unique technology that interfaces with your existing systems to avoid duplication and simplify technical integration
• Experience in delivering health services with proven benefits
• A holistic user experience by bringing together local authority, housing, emergency service and other relevant national and local partners
• Looking Local is free on DiTV, available 24/7 and accessible on the go on mobile phones and currently on the Wii (with other consumer electronics to follow)
• Easy to navigate service, accessibility and usability tested and specifically designed for each device
• A future-proof means of providing digital communication to local people at low cost - all branded and capable of spanning new media as technology continues to change and grow
• The ability to keep up with the cutting edge of electronic communication without incurring expensive local development costs or duplicating resource and effort

Looking Local is always keen to speak with health service providers, agencies and organisations whether from the public or private sectors. Please feel free to contact us to discuss our portal and strategy further.

Research shows Internet will not reach all

Recent research from Birmingham University's Health Services Management Centre by Jo Ellins and Shirley McIver, in association with NHS West Midlands entitled: 'Supporting patients to make informed choices in primary care: what works?' found the following:

'Some groups (e.g. low income, low literacy and ethnic minority groups) are more likely to encounter problems understanding written text and/or accessing the internet. There is a risk that current approaches will reinforce existing patterns of information seeking rather than empower new categories of healthcare consumer.'

'There are various alternative formats to written leaflets that could be used and some of these - such as telephone helplines and digital televisions - are more likely to reach groups that are not well served by current sources of information.'

For more information on this research click here.

Online Information Services for Patients and the Public: Analysis of user needs - NHS 24.

The study also showed that two-thirds of the adult population in Scotland reported not using the Internet for health or social care information. The study confirmed that disadvantaged groups and the elderly are the least likely to use online information sources while being some of the groups which most need the kind of information such sources contain.

The authors stated that it is imperative, therefore, to ensure
(i) that other channels of information are pursued with the same vigour as the online route and
(ii) ways to encourage and help people to seek health information online are devised, promoted and supported.

Researched and written by Dr Pat Straw on behalf of NHS Education for Scotland Knowledge Services Group November 2009