App promoted to shoppers in Medway

Look out for these two 'appy people around Medway as they promote the new free NHS web app Health Help Now.

Jordan Angel and Joe Linnell, from Gillingham, are introducing Health Help Now to shoppers around Kent.

This week they have been at Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre, Gillingham, moving to Tesco, Rochester over the weekend, and from Monday (10 Feb) to Wednesday (12 Feb) they will be at the Pentagon Shopping Centre, Chatham where the app was launched with a flash mob just before Christmas.

Then, after a stint in Swale, they return to Medway from Friday 23 February to Sunday 23 February at Asda, Strood.

The pair are demonstrating how the web app works and encouraging shoppers to download it to their mobile phones, tablets, lap tops and even desktop computers.

Jordan said: "The response has been really positive. Once people see what it can do they download it immediately.

"We have had mums concerned about the welfare of their children, dads who want to join stop-smoking clinics and elderly couples who want to look after each other. It's a brilliant idea."

The app was part-commissioned by NHS Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) which plans and pays for the majority of the area's healthcare. It has been designed to help people find the right health help for them at any time, day or night instead of going to busy hospital Accident and Emergency departments.

Since it was launched on 13 December it has been used more than 4,000 times by more than 2,700 people.

The web app enables people to select their symptoms and location, and suggests the best and nearest place to go for treatment. If it is to a pharmacy, walk-in centre or minor injury unit it gives directions to the nearest one which is open.

GP Dr Chris Markwick, urgent care lead for NHS Medway CCG, said: "Health Help Now has useful information and advice for people of every age. By using Health Help Now, people should be able to find the service in Medway or Kent that can help them, whether they are at home or out and about.

"We know that it can be confusing to know where to get help. People who are unsure often just go to A&E, even if they only have a minor injury or ailment. Health Help Now can help these people to get the right treatment without having to wait in a busy A&E department.

"That will help them and, by keeping A&E free for those who really need it, it will also help the NHS focus lifesaving care on the most seriously ill and injured patients." 

Health Help Now lists GP practices, minor injury units, walk-in centres, dentists, optometrists and pharmacists. It includes support phone numbers for mental health worries and contains information on common health conditions and web links to reliable resources.

It can be downloaded from www.healthhelpnow-nhs.net and saved to a mobile phone, tablet or computer for easy use.  To see its launch at the Pentagon Shopping Centre, Chatham visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR51iRljfZI