Patients invited to help shape the future of digital healthcare at RJAH

Patients at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) are being invited to share their experiences of using digital technology as part of work being undertaken to make healthcare more accessible for everyone. 

Shropshire’s specialist orthopaedic hospital has launched a Digital Inclusion and Patient Access Survey to better understand how confident patients feel using digital services, including appointment text messages, emails, online information and other digital tools. 

The feedback will help ensure that as more services become available digitally, nobody is unintentionally left behind.

The survey forms part of RJAH's commitment to reducing health inequalities and improving access to care for all patients, regardless of age, location, digital skills or access to technology.

Dr Ruth Longfellow, Chief Medical Officer at RJAH, is leading the work as part of the National Health Inequalities Improvement Senior Clinical Leadership Programme.

She said: "Digital technology offers many benefits for patients, but we recognise that not everyone has the same access to devices or the confidence to use digital services.

"We want to hear from as many people as possible so we can better understand the challenges patients face and ensure that future services are designed with everyone in mind.

"Whether you regularly use digital technology or prefer more traditional ways of communicating, your views are incredibly important and will help shape how we deliver services in the future."

The short survey asks about access to digital devices, internet connectivity, confidence using technology and any barriers patients may experience. It also invites people to suggest how RJAH could make digital services easier to use.

The findings will help the hospital identify where additional support may be needed and ensure future digital developments improve access rather than widening existing health inequalities.

The survey takes around three minutes to complete and is available to both current and former RJAH patients.

Patients can complete the survey online by scanning QR codes displayed around the hospital, using Trust tablets where available, or by filling in a paper copy. Staff and volunteers will also be available to support anyone who would like help completing the survey. Large print, easy read and translation support will also be available where required.

The link to the survey can be accessed here.