Posted on Friday 17th January 2025
(L-R): Dr Asif Ahmed, County Councillor Victoria Wilson and Library Assistant, Jamie Bilson.
People who need that little bit of extra help to download and register on the NHS App can now do so at a library in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
The support is available at eight Staffordshire libraries, with several more expected to join in the coming months. All six libraries in Stoke-on-Trent are also offering support.
The initiative is launching alongside Health Information Week which starts on Monday 20 January, a national campaign to promote high-quality information available to the public.
Libraries already play a vital role in making online services more accessible and according to a recent survey by Ipsos, librarians are the third most trusted profession in Britain.
Trained library staff will be on hand to help and people can book an appointment for a face-to-face session. The support is particularly important for residents who are not tech-savvy or people from more disadvantaged communities where they may not have access to the internet or a device at home.
The NHS App is home to a range of features, allowing patients to access services from the comfort of their homes – from viewing their GP health record to nominating their preferred pharmacy. More than 35 million people have now registered for the app since its launch in December 2018.
Libraries Chief at Staffordshire County Council, Victoria Wilson, said:
“We’re incredibly excited to be part of this new national effort to help improve use of the NHS App.
“For most people, getting up and running on the NHS App is fairly straight forward, but for some it can be tricky or if people don’t have access to the internet or a mobile phone it can be impossible. That’s where our staff can step in and help people to sign up and better navigate features of the NHS App, such as ordering online prescriptions or booking an appointment at the GP for themselves or a family member.
“Our libraries continue to play an important role as community hubs and in signposting people to trusted health information and local services.”
Dr Asif Ahmed, Primary Care Digital Clinical Lead for the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB), said:
“The NHS is determined to ensure that everyone has easy access to the latest health advice, including those who may not own a device or have internet access, as they may not be able to access the best NHS services for them, when they need healthcare.
“That’s why healthcare staff will now be available in 1,400 public libraries across the country to show people how to use the NHS App or seek out health information online, in a free and safe environment close to their home.
“More than 35 million people in England are already using the NHS App to view their GP records, test results, and prescriptions so they can better manage their health, and the NHS hopes that many more will benefit from this new initiative.”
Staffordshire library user, Tania Kerr from Burton, said:
“I was keen to get started with the App but wasn’t sure whether I could do it myself, which is why I booked an appointment at the library.
“The member of staff was great and went through how to create an account, how to log in, and then showed me all the different things you can do. I love it! I’m not only using it for my repeat prescription but I have looked around it and I think it’s good because you can see your hospital appointments too."
New and innovative features continue to be rolled out onto the NHS App to help patients access convenient and high-quality care when and where they need it.
Patients in many parts of the country are now able to view and manage their hospital appointments on the NHS App and many GP practices are now sending NHS App notifications to patients, with appointment reminders and other messages relating to their care.
In Staffordshire, the support is currently available at Burton, Cannock, Newcastle, Tamworth, Lichfield, Stafford, Uttoxeter, Perton and Leek libraries. In Stoke-on-Trent, the support is available at Bentilee, Meir, Stoke, Longton, Tunstall and City Central (Hanley) libraries.
Details on how to register with the NHS App are available on their website.