“People already have the will to take control of their health – we’re just helping them find the way.” – Rita, NHS Volunteer

Making Digital Health Real: A Day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham

A Buzz of Connection at Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Walk through the main entrance of Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and you will feel it – a steady hum of energy, conversations, and care. During our recent Digital Health Day, the Smartlyte team joined NHS volunteers to bring that same energy to the world of digital health.

We set up near the busy outpatient area, where patients and families stopped to ask questions, download the NHS App, and discover just how much they could do from their phones – from booking appointments to checking prescriptions.

Helping People Get Online – and Stay Confident

For Rita, an NHS volunteer, it was a day of discovery too. She spent hours helping patients navigate the app, explaining features like proxy access, managing vaccinations, and viewing records.

But she also noticed something important: many patients were eager to use the app but couldn’t access certain features because their GP practices hadn’t yet enabled them. “They want to use it,” she said. “They’re ready. We just need to help them get there.”

Overcoming Real Barriers

Not everything went smoothly – and that’s the point. Some visitors came to us with locked accounts, forgotten passwords, or biometric issues. With a little teamwork and a lot of patience, Rita and the team helped them reset, re-verify, and reconnect.

By the end of the day, dozens of people had gained confidence, access, and a sense of achievement. Rita left with new skills, new insights, and a renewed sense of purpose.

A Partnership That’s Making a Difference

Our Digital Health Days at QE Hospital show what’s possible when community and healthcare come together. Side by side with the NHS, Smartlyte is helping people manage their health online — confidently, independently, and safely.