A multidisciplinary team is working on accessibility issues relating to the new HSE Health App. The app was downloaded over 40,000 times between 25 February and 20 March.
The app’s initial features include a digital list of self-declared medications and access to influenza and Covid-19 vaccination records.
A review of the app was recently published by TASC (Think-Tank for Action on Social Change). The report described the app as “an important step” towards modernising the healthcare system.
However, the TASC authors also raised accessibility issues. They said certain groups were more likely to experience challenges due to factors such as “digital literacy, access to compatible devices, and a lack of universal design”.
Low-income households may lack smartphones or compatible devices, while shared-device users are limited by the app’s one-profile-per-phone setup. Rural populations may struggle with connectivity and older adults and people with disabilities may encounter usability barriers.
A verified MyGovID account is required to log into the app. According to TASC, this may exclude “new arrivals, young adults, and others without these credentials”.
A HSE spokesperson said it wants as many people as possible to be able to use the app. The app development team has consulted with various organisations representing people with a disability. The team has also worked with a patient advisory group to understand the needs of a wide range of people.
“A multidisciplinary team has been assembled to work on accessibility on an ongoing basis, urgently fixing content, and improving accessibility for app users,” said
the spokesperson.
The HSE is continuing to consult with groups who are likely to experience challenges around digital inclusion, they added.
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