Technology set to play a big part in rural county’s health strategy
PEOPLE ARE being asked to have their say on how new technology can be used to boost healthcare services in parts of rural North Yorkshire.
Council and NHS bosses are drawing up a 10-year plan which includes more online GP consultations, to avoid patients having to travel long distances to see a doctor.
Patients could keep track of their own health by wearing monitoring devices – that would then record their body weight and levels of physical activity – under the proposals.
County Councillor Michael Harrison, who chairs North Yorkshire County Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “Developing a strategy that explains how we can make use of digital technology to provide the best services possible for local people is a priority for us.
“Delivering health and wellbeing
services across North Yorkshire is a complex challenge. Large parts of our county are very sparsely populated and very rural in places.
“This means people who need and provide health and wellbeing services may have to travel long distances to use and deliver them.
“We continue to invest heavily in infrastructure such as superfast broadband throughout the county, and we need to see how we can use this investment to benefit our communities more widely.”
People can try out some of the new technology and watch demonstrations at three public workshops.
The first will be held on Monday, February 25, at The Street, on Lower Clark Street, Scarborough from 1pm–3pm.
Workshops will also be held at Allerton Court Hotel, on Darlington Road, Northallerton, from 10.30am–12.30pm on Friday March 1, and on Tuesday, March 12, at the Cedar Court Hotel, Park Parade, Harrogate, from 1pm– 3pm.
More information and an online survey can also be found at www.nypartnerships.org.uk/myhealthmytech