Online platform to help Scotland’s health boards engage with communities

A new online resource is helping health boards stay in touch with local communities while coronavirus restrictions remain in place.
The new resource offers organisations various hints, tips and examples of engagement methods. Photo by Goumbik from PixabayThe new resource offers organisations various hints, tips and examples of engagement methods. Photo by Goumbik from Pixabay
The new resource offers organisations various hints, tips and examples of engagement methods. Photo by Goumbik from Pixabay

The pandemic has made it harder for NHS boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships to keep people informed about changes to their local services – for example, focus groups and shopping centre surveys cannot be undertaken.

The new online resource, Engaging Differently, has been created by created by Healthcare Improvement Scotland – Community Engagement. It offers organisations various hints, tips and examples of engagement methods which can be employed without relying entirely on digital technology.

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Community engagement director Lynsey Cleland explained: “People who use health and social care services can expect to be consulted about their local health and social care services in a way that works for them.

Covid-19 presents challenges to carrying out meaningful engagement and people may automatically think that engagement can only be carried out digitally.

“While many people have access to online platforms to enable this, some do not and not everyone is comfortable using this technology. ‘Engaging Differently’ is about ensuring new barriers to engagement are not created for people and communities in the current circumstances.”

To access ‘Engaging Differently’ visit here