Online information service for dementia and stroke patients

Online information service for dementia and stroke patients

By Margaret Rogers

This week we have heard David Cameron declare that rising rates of dementia are ‘a nation crisis.  We are now informed that the Prime Minister has giving his full backing to the launch of a ground-breaking website with a public information service called ‘Our Health’.

This site is reported to be the first of its kind in the UK and will launch a major drive to improve the lives of patients and their carers.  Initially the service will focus on dementia and stroke services and will offer data and information on a range of local health and care services for patients, carers and professionals that was previously unavailable to the public.

The site was designed and developed in collaboration with NHS South West by Exeter and London based digital agency Organic Development.  It integrates social technology and networking facilities so that both patients and their carers can connect to share and compare information and experiences.  Eventually the site will develop to provide a comprehensive information resource covering a wide range of health and care services.

The aims of ‘Our Health’ are described by James Moffat, Managing Director of Organic Development ‘The site looks to break down the barriers between patients, the NHS and social care, helping service users make informed decisions and take control of their health care experience.’

Organic Development has designed the site in a way that makes it highly accessible, simple to use and an open service.  The aim is to provide a range of benefits to the visitor as laid out below:

  • Visitors to the site will be able to identify services in their local area.
  • The performance of these services can then be compared with services locally and across the South West and users can identify the best service for their needs.
  • The site will integrate social technology including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and will also provide a forum for people to feedback on their experiences and to connect with others in similar situations.
  • Patients, their friends and families will be able to find out more about a particular health condition and look up information on what treatment and services they can expect.
  • The information on treatment and care will enable both patients and practitioners to make decisions about their treatment and care.

The open service will also provide valuable information for professionals, such as ‘what to expect’ information sections, directories of local services and performance comparisons between providers across the South West.

More information can be found online at here.

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