Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that people are not denied access to NHS services as a result of a lack of access to internet or mobile phone devices.

One of the priorities of the phase three National Health Service response to COVID-19 is to help prevent digital exclusion. NHS England and NHS Improvement’s health inequalities improvement team is working closely with NHSX in developing a strategic plan to tackle digital inclusion and access.

All NHS organisations have been asked to ensure that no matter how people choose to interact with services, they should receive the same levels of access, consistent advice and the same outcomes of care.