The people most likely to benefit from easy access to health information are also those who are most likely to be digitally excluded, and therefore unable to access the internet without help. 

Digital channels can provide valuable health information, in both a place and time that is immediately useful to people. 

However people who are already excluded may find that digital information alone does not meet their needs, through a lack of trust or a lack of knowledge of such resources. 

Through the Widening Digital Participation programme we have discovered that Health Hubs - dedicated community locations with trusted people on hand to guide - can help socially and digitally excluded people to improve their online skills and access relevant information and tools (both online and in their local area) to improve their health and wellbeing. Health Hubs have also been able to build relationships with their local health systems, including GPs and frontline health workers, in order to reach people and support them in digital health inclusion.

We are currently exploring the potential to scale the Health Hubs model. We're working with a further 27 organisations which - in different ways - are existing community assets, including community centres, libraries, Citizens Advice, housing associations, GP practices and hospitals.

We're working with partners to evaluate and share the learning from Health Hubs supported through the Widening Digital Participation programme.

Read the final report here - Digital Health Hubs: An Evaluation (PDF)

What is a Health Hub?

A Health Hub is a trusted place,
with trusted people accessing trusted information

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