Foreward
We are delighted to introduce ‘Digitally Well: A partnership approach to increasing digital inclusion in North Tyneside’.
North Tyneside’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy Equally Well 2021-2025, makes clear the challenge of health inequalities in the Borough. Inequalities in education, training, income, employment, and health, some of which existed prior to the pandemic, have been amplified during it. Digital inclusion is firmly rooted in all of these; being digitally included involves being able to enjoy the benefits of being online and use technology confidently to improve your day-to-day life.
Increasing digital inclusion in North Tyneside is a shared ambition across our organisations. North Tyneside Council, North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System (NENC ICS) and the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) are committed to delivering solutions to support residents to thrive. We want to ensure that we consider and implement digital inclusion in the design of new solutions, otherwise we could make the situation worse. Our population has a greater likelihood of health inequalities so we can make accessing services even harder by introducing digital technology. We are committed to understanding and removing the barriers that exclude people, helping us focus on increasing digital access and digital use by choice, leaving no one behind.
We know that more and more people are increasingly using digital technologies to manage their lives, but it is not the experience of everyone; indeed, many services delivered by the NHS, Local Authorities and VCS, will never be delivered ‘digitally’. Residents have told us that physical spaces and face to face services are sometimes still needed and are important to them. This strategy is not about forcing every resident and patient to get online, it’s about ensuring that they have equal opportunity when and if they choose, and are supported to have access, skills, confidence, and motivation.
We encourage everyone reading this strategy, to consider how they can increase digital inclusion by choice for residents and help reduce inequalities for all in North Tyneside.
Cllr Karen Clarke, Cabinet Member responsible for Public Health, Safety and Wellbeing, North Tyneside Council
Professor Graham Evans, Executive Chief Digital and Information Officer, NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board
Vicky Smith, VODA, Chief Executive Officer