A MORAY DIGITAL HEALTH firm is behind an innovative scheme that will improve support for people with Mental Health issues in remote areas.
Launched this week by charity Birchwood Highland, the new system has been developed by Forres firm Openbrolly.
Birchwood Highland are to begin rolling out the system, which enables additional choice of online support, in Easter Ross, Lochaber and around Inverness. The system is designed to overcome the challenges and barriers presented by the geography and topography of the Highlands and to more readily reach out to people regardless of distance.
People Birchwood Highland support will be able to discuss goals, plans and concerns through a video link, share correspondence they require assistance with and access their personal support plan documents.
David Sim, a director at Openbrolly, said: “There is a push, particularly in Scotland, to overcome barriers caused by distance and limited resources and put people in control of the care they receive.
“Technology is part of the solution and enables a level of care that would be impossible to deliver using traditional methods.”
Linda Birnie, community services manager at Birchwood Highland, added: “We see the new service as an innovative way to improve support using new technology. Enabling choice and inclusion, plus being responsive to offering support where and when it is needed, which are key outcomes for us.
“This new system offers an immediate personal connection over distance rather than someone having to wait for a visit while a worker travels to their home, so individuals may get more value from the support time.
“This system can be blended with traditional visits to cover a full range of preferred support requirements.”
The system will integrate with Openbrolly’s ROC health and social care software platform, which has been developed for a range of health and social care organisations and has been used successfully to provide support to people living with long-term conditions.
The new project will complement traditional methods of service delivery which will remain available to service users.