17/10/2022 - Permalink

Shropshire libraries pilot new ways to help people manage their health

Related topics: Health / Leisure, culture and heritage / Partner organisations

Staff at Shropshire libraries are being trained to help people manage their ‘health admin’, under a nationally-run pilot scheme.

As part of a national partnership with CILIP: the library and information association, Libraries Connected and Arts Council England, Health Education England is funding small-scale pilots to explore ways local libraries can support people looking to access and use healthcare information online.

The project is called Your Health Admin.

Shropshire Council’s library staff have been working with local GPs and library staff at Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to identify the information needs of Shropshire’s GP patients in order to develop a course which is open to anyone who wants to learn how to manage their health online.

The course will help people who:

  • struggle to get hold of their GP and make appointments
  • need to find trustworthy information about a health condition
  • want a better way to order prescriptions
  • want to learn to use the NHS App.

Rob Gittins, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture and digital, said:-

“Our libraries service offers far more than the traditional book lending service, and we are always looking at new ways we can support our communities and offer them services that they need.

“It is exciting that six Shropshire libraries are involved in this pilot project, and for people to know there is help and support available to them if they want to learn more about managing their own wellbeing online. This is another example of the excellent digital support we are able to provide.”

Your Health Admin is currently available at six libraries in Shropshire:

Anyone wanting to book a place on the  Your Health Admin courses should contact their library of choice direct.