Wellbeing kiosks launched in Lincolnshire to help the digitally excluded

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has launched seven new digital kiosks in community hubs to help people access to health information and support.

The kiosks link residents to a central resource called Lincolnshire Atrium, which provides information about health and wellbeing, as well as details about how to contact the Lincolnshire mental health helpline. It also provides signposting to activities and groups available through local directories.

The hubs are sited in places like GP practices and sports grounds in Boston, Gainsborough, Grantham, Lincoln, Louth, Holbeach, Mablethorpe, and Spilsby. The aim is to reduce digital inequalities by giving people without smartphones or computers the ability to find information they might otherwise struggle to access.

The kiosks, which are being funded from a national pot, will run for two years. They will then be evaluated to see whether the technology should remain in the hubs for an extended period.

Bridge Central, a community venue in Lincoln, has been using the kiosks for several months. Stacey Marriot co-ordinates a crisis cafe at Bridge Central, which is an out-of-hours safe space for people who are struggling with their mental health. She said: “The community kiosk and tablets have helped equip our team to provide valuable signposting advice to connect our guests with other services which can help meet their specific needs and improve their overall health and wellbeing.”

Digital poverty is a barrier to accessing health care

Steve Skinner, the service development lead for adult mental health community division, described digital poverty as a “significant barrier to some people accessing health care how they would like. The addition of the kiosks is important because it increases options for those who would not normally be able to access our services online.”

David Jones, the trust’s business development manager and transformation lead for digital, said that the trust had used NHS England funding in an “innovative” way and “in partnership with health and social care system colleagues to enable access to digital services in community settings across the county.

“Our delivery partners Pinntec Limited have been excellent in delivering what we need and working with our community sites to install the equipment. We hope the kiosks enable local people to access support and information in different way, as well as providing much needed digital access.”