TEWV NHS
The effects of the pandemic COVID-19 caused new digital services to be implemented almost overnight . But this carries the risk of leaving behind people who don ' t have access to tech or digital skills . This is a particularly important issue for Sidhu , who is ensuring that by taking a digital-first approach the trust doesn ' t widen the gaps in access to technology , which are greater in the north-east than in other parts of the country . " There is a higher percentage of digital poverty here compared to the Midlands for example , where I worked previously . We need to take a blended approach to delivering digital capabilities to ensure there is equitable access ."
There are discussions ongoing with Vodafone and BT Connect to find solutions to tackle digital poverty . While plans are still very much in their infancy , there is a pilot in the pipeline with BT Connect to help monitor patients ' health in their own homes . With Vodafone they are exploring the possibility of enabling people to visit a Vodafone store to use the network provider ' s data , stepping into a soundproofed booth where they can carry out online assessments or the learning required to have video consultations .
The trust is also offering Attend Anywhere , a project between Government , hospitals and health systems to help make video call access a normal part of dayto-day life . This has enabled patients to continue having appointments with doctors while the pandemic has been ongoing . The trust is one of the biggest users of Attend Anywhere in the country , with over 70,000 video appointments held since April 2020 .
Additionally , tablets , laptops and smartphones have been provided for both staff and patients . " It was very important that we weren ' t isolating patients that needed access , so we ' ve been delivering tablets to patients ' homes so they can conduct virtual appointments with healthcare staff . Then , following infection prevention rules , we wipe down the tablet and move on to the next patient . It was important that we worked with what we had at the time in terms of technology " Sidhu explains . technologymagazine . com 271