PAGB’s findings are published in a ‘Digital Self Care Audit’ in which we make three key recommendations for how recent advancements across digital platforms and remote services during the pandemic can be harnessed to lock-in a longer-term shift towards self care.
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PAGB’s Digital self care audit is launched in advance of Self Care Week, 16-22 November, a national awareness week organised by the Self Care Forum to promote the importance of self care.
Join us in supporting Self Care Week, by sharing our messages on social media. We’ve created some images and recommended tweets to use online. |
The coronavirus pandemic has prompted many people to consider self care as a first option when previously they might have sought advice from a GP or even visited A&E.
Findings from PAGB’s survey of over 2,000 people found that
This suggests a positive shift in attitudes towards self care which, if acted on, could reduce pressure on the NHS, helping to ensure that those with serious, long-term and life-threatening health problems can get the medical support they need. However, it’s crucial that people who choose to self care are equipped with the information and skills to do this safely and effectively. Easily accessible, reliable and accurate information is key.
Our recommendations build on PAGB’s 2019 Self care and technology report and sets out out three steps to improve self care through digital resources:
Recommendation 1
NHS England should develop a self care section in the NHS App and on the NHS website. It should include fact sheets, such as those produced by the Self Care Forum, and easy to understand advice on the likely duration of symptoms, what ‘normal’ symptoms to expect, red-flag symptoms for which medical attention should be sought, and treatment options and how to access them.
Recommendation 2
NHSX should explore how self care apps could support greater self care, encourage the use of pharmacies and help manage demand on local GPs, including undertaking a review of existing self care apps and incorporating them into the NHS Apps Library.
Recommendation 3
NHSX should ensure online triage systems direct people based on their symptoms and signpost to local pharmacies for self-treatable conditions where appropriate, rather than connecting them to a GP
We encourage you to use Self Care Week as an opportunity to promote messages around self care. Follow us on twitter @PAGBselfcare and Linked In and retweet/share our posts us spread the word about self care.
We’ve also made our twitter cards available for you to download and use along with a series of key messages to use in your posts.
Please remember to include our handle @PAGBselfcare and tag other organisations in the self care space to help amplify the messages. Don’t forget #SelfCare and #SelfCareWeek.
For even more stats from our self care survey to share on social media, visit our resources for International Self Care Day
