Smart tech for Ayrshire’s students
Ayrshire College, NHS Ayrshire & Arran and NHS 24 are working in partnership to encourage students to go digital to help them look after their health.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran has provided three computer tablets to be used across the Ayrshire College campuses. The tablets will be available at each of the Ayr, Kilmarnock and Kilwinning campus for students to use as and when they need them to access information on health services.
The iPads will offer students access to information about a number of local services, such as Eyecare Ayrshire; minor ailments; community pharmacy sexual health and contraception clinics; and the Pharmacy First scheme, which is available in community pharmacies in Ayrshire.
The new technology will also provide information from NHS 24. This online site has a range of resources such as self-help guides – illness and the new mental health guides; information on specific conditions; nearest pharmacy; Breathing space; and Scotland's service directory.
Eddie Fraser, Director of East Ayrshire Health and Social Care, commented: “We hope this initiative will offer easy access to self-help health guides. It will also provide people with a greater understanding of the services that are available locally to them in Ayrshire.
“By offering self-care advice where and when they need it, students will have the tools to help them stay well and carry on with their studies.”
The organisations will work collaboratively to support students’ physical and mental health and wellbeing. In 2018/19, service users aged between 16 and 30 accounted for almost a quarter of the overall out-of-hours interventions with a GP or Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) within the Ayrshire Urgent Care Service.
Louise Bennie, Head of Digital NHS 24, added: “This collaboration is a great opportunity to raise awareness of health and care services and resources available in local communities.
“NHS 24’s range of national digital services provide health information and advice, including self-help guides, and signposting to local services. These are all designed to help people to access the right service at the right time for them. We look forward to seeing the impact locally in terms of usage and experience.”
The new technology was launched at an information event on Tuesday 14 May in Kilmarnock Campus. Staff from NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS 24 and Ayrshire College were on hand to speak to students and staff to raise awareness of the range of services and resources that are there to support.
Julie Maxwell, Director of Care & Early Years Education, Ayrshire College, said: “Ayrshire College is delighted to be involved in this exciting and innovative project. The health and wellbeing of our students and staff is a high priority and this initiative delivers a wide range of high quality services and resources to support their needs”
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