GP appointment bookings and health screenings, Jobcentre Plus applications and monitoring of vulnerable residents could all increase sharply by 2015 if proposals to increase Next Generation Access (NGA) come to fruition.
According to figures released by Halton Borough Council, with a total of 36,571 broadband lines the borough already has a higher percentage of residents with high speed internet access than Liverpool, Warrington, St Helens, Knowsley and Sefton.
A total of 30.39% of the borough’s population has broadband access. Its nearest competitor is Liverpool, on 28.75%.
The figures came as the council unveiled its Digital Economy and Inclusion Strategy, which aims to have the following up and running by 2015:
- A total of 75% of residents using basic broadband, and 100% of businesses using NGA (with speeds of between 50 and 100 megabits per second).
- About 50% of GPs offering online services for booking appointments, and 25% offering online services for health screening and advice.
- A ‘telecare’ strategy which will allow vulnerable adults to be monitored so they can remain at home instead of in sheltered accommodation.
- The number of job vacancies accessed online and applied for electronically to have increased to 80%.
- For residents to have access to low cost ICT equipment, training and technical support.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Mark Smith
Quelle/Source: Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News, 02.06.2011
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