Introduction
Public libraries can offer a secure, trusted, warm space where people can get help to access digital health services.
As part of a National Health Literacy Partnership, NHS England has developed resources to enable library staff to help people to:
• find trusted health information,
• access and use their NHS account,
• register to use the NHS App or NHS website.
Below are some key questions and answers about the partnership activity. If you have any further questions, please contact the Knowledge for Healthcare email for the national NHS Knowledge and Library Services team england.kfh@nhs.net
Key questions and answers
- Are all local branch libraries involved when a library service is listed?
- How can I equip my public library service to take part?
- How can I find out about local NHS App ambassadors?
- How can I find the name for a local public library contact?
- How can I work with my nearby NHS and public health services to support service delivery?
- How can we help make NHS content easier to read?
- How will this new initiative be promoted to the public?
- I work for an NHS library; how can I get involved?
- Public library services can decide how many branches take part.
- What are linked profiles and how does it work through NHS App/Account?
- What are the benefits of collecting case studies and stories?
- What are the success measures for this initiative?
- What are the trusted health information websites and what do they cover?
- What is an NHS account?
- What is digital inclusion and why does it matter?
- What is health literacy and why it matters?
- What is in place to support libraries to deliver this service?
- What is the evidence that this approach works?
- What is the National Health Literacy Partnership?
- What is the timescale?
- What support is there for someone struggling to access their NHS account?
- Where can public libraries find out about NHS library services?
- Where can you use NHS login?
- Where to find the dedicated webpages with support resources for the public and training resources for libraries and what is included.
- Where to find the library communication and social media toolkit and what is included?
- Which public library services are involved?
- Why public libraries?
- Would I be able to access free data or devices to give to my service users?