How it is closing the digital divide to support people in (a) rural areas and (b) Scotland to access online health and care information.

We recognise that technology can have a positive and transformative impact on peoples’ lives, but equally, we must ensure that no-one is left behind who wishes to engage in this way. Our focus on digital inclusion is a key priority not just in health and care but across Scotland, as key in addressing digital access inequalities.
The Near Me Service enables people to attend appointments in their homes via video consultations and reducing the need to travel long distances. While available across Scotland, the service is beneficial to people living in rural areas who otherwise may face long journeys to attend appointments. Near Me is valuable in giving people options on accessing healthcare in a way that is convenient for them and saves people having to take time off work, arrange childcare, or arrange transport. The service currently supports around 12,000 consultations each week and has saved an estimated 60 million travel miles to date, with associated benefit to the environment. The scheme is being extended so that people can use it in community settings such as libraries, community, and health and care facilities. These new hubs also provide private confidential spaces, improved connectivity, and support for people with lower digital confidence or limited or no access to a suitable device, further helping to reduce the digital divide. We are also working with Social Security Scotland on a dedicated video platform, initially piloting use in support of child disability payments, as well as the use of Near Me in social care settings.
In 2021 we launched the Digital Inclusion in Care homes programme, which saw strong partnership with the social care and social work sectors. This involved the distribution of iPads and Mifi connectivity to 75% of care homes (91% of resident population). Some 9% of homes had no devices for resident use prior to initiative. We have extended connectivity support and data packages for devices for a further year, and we have extended the digital training and leadership package available to residents and professionals through a collaboration with Barclays Digital Eagles.
Through initiatives like the Connecting Scotland programme, the Scottish Government continues to invest in digital inclusion, enabling people to interact with their health and care data digitally, where they wish to. Some 60,000 people have benefited from the programme to date from devices, skills and connectivity, with a commitment to support a total of 300,000 people over the length of this parliament. We have also launched a new Digital Inclusion programme, with a focus on mental health and housing. The programme will develop, test, and implement a range of digital inclusion models, supporting the delivery of the Digital Health and Care Strategy and contributing to the work of Connecting Scotland to address digital exclusion.