Community pharmacies across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire are using QR codes on ‘Health Information Hubs’ to share the most up to date health advice and information with their patients.
The hubs allow patients with smart phones to download information leaflets directly to their devices using QR code technology and view health related information such as the Common Ailments Scheme as well as links to self-help leaflets for chronic diseases.
The information hubs can be updated remotely and therefore the detail behind each QR code will always be kept up to date.
Advantages of using digital technology include a reduction in paper leaflets as well discretion for patients who wish to obtain information about personal issues.
Patients who don’t have access to a smartphone will still be able to collect information in paper format.
The hubs are now in almost all community pharmacies within Hywel Dda.
Pharmacist Dave Edwards of Edwards Healthcare said “The Health Information Hubs are bringing pharmacy information leaflets into the 21st Century. They will empower patients to take control of their health, and take responsibility for their wellbeing.”
Pharmacist Gareth Harlow of Harlow & Knowles in Penygroes has also praised the introduction of the hubs: “We have been displaying the QR for the last few weeks and it has generated a lot of interest from patients of all age ranges.
“I was pleasantly surprised how easy it is to use and think it is brilliant that patients can now get up to date information so quickly and easily on their phone by scanning these QR pods.”
Jill Paterson, Director of Primary Care, Community and Long-term Care for Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “We are delighted to launch yet another resource for patients with our colleagues in community pharmacy and recognise the range of enhanced services they can offer, often as a first point of contact, which has extended the role they play in the community.
“The new Health Information Hubs are a convenient way for patients to access a range of medical and healthy lifestyle information and advice.
“Our community pharmacies do a lot more these days than simply dispense medication and in some cases they can save a trip to a GP or an Accident and Emergency Department and as you don’t have to make an appointment they offer a quick and flexible way to access healthcare and health information.”
To find out more about the services your local pharmacy offers, please visit: www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/communitypharmacy
Hybiau codau QR yw’r ffordd glyfar o gael gafael ar wybodaeth am iechyd
Mae fferyllfeydd cymunedol ledled Sir Gaerfyrddin, Ceredigion a Sir Benfro’n defnyddio codau QR ar ‘Hybiau Gwybodaeth am Iechyd’ i rannu’r cyngor a’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am iechyd gyda’u cleifion.
Mae’r hybiau’n galluogi cleifion sydd â ffonau clyfar i lawrlwytho taflenni gwybodaeth yn uniongyrchol i’w dyfeisiau gan ddefnyddio technoleg codau QR. Gallant hefyd weld gwybodaeth sy’n ymwneud ag iechyd, er enghraifft y Cynllun Anhwylderau Cyffredin, yn ogystal â dolenni i daflenni hunangymorth ar gyfer clefydau cronig. Gall yr hybiau gwybodaeth gael eu diweddaru o bell, ac felly bydd y manylion y tu ôl i bob cod QR bob amser yn gyfredol.
Mae’r manteision o ddefnyddio technoleg ddigidol yn cynnwys llai o daflenni papur, yn ogystal â disgresiwn i gleifion sy’n dymuno cael gwybodaeth am faterion personol.
Bydd cleifion sydd heb fynediad i ffôn clyfar yn dal i allu casglu gwybodaeth ar bapur.
Mae’r hybiau i’w gweld yn y rhan fwyaf o’r fferyllfeydd cymunedol yn Hywel Dda erbyn hyn.
Dywedodd y Fferyllydd, Dave Edwards, o Edwards Healthcare, “Mae’r Hybiau Gwybodaeth am Iechyd yn dod â thaflenni gwybodaeth fferyllfeydd i mewn i’r 21ain Ganrif. Byddant yn grymuso cleifion i gymryd rheolaeth dros eu hiechyd, ac i gymryd cyfrifoldeb am eu lles.”
Mae’r Fferyllydd, Gareth Harlow, o Harlow & Knowles ym Mhenygroes hefyd wedi canmol yr hybiau newydd: “Rydym wedi bod yn arddangos y QR dros yr ychydig wythnosau diwethaf, ac mae wedi creu llawer o ddiddordeb ymhlith cleifion o bob oed.
“Cefais fy siomi ar yr ochr orau o weld pa mor hawdd eu defnyddio ydynt, ac rwy’n credu ei bod yn wych y gall cleifion gael gwybodaeth gyfredol mewn modd mor gyflym a hawdd ar eu ffôn trwy sganio’r podiau QR hyn.”
Dywedodd Jill Paterson, Cyfarwyddwr Gofal Sylfaenol, Gofal Cymunedol a Gofal Hirdymor ar gyfer Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda: “Rydym yn falch iawn o lansio adnodd arall eto ar gyfer cleifion, a hynny gyda’n cyd-weithwyr ym maes fferylliaeth gymunedol, ac rydym yn cydnabod yr amrywiaeth o wasanaethau ychwanegol y gallant ei chynnig, yn aml fel pwynt cyswllt cyntaf, sydd wedi ymestyn y rôl y maent yn ei chwarae yn y gymuned.
“Mae’r Hybiau Gwybodaeth am Iechyd newydd yn ffordd gyfleus i gleifion gael gafael ar amrywiaeth o wybodaeth a chyngor meddygol a ffordd o fyw.
“Mae ein fferyllfeydd cymunedol yn gwneud llawer mwy y dyddiau hyn na dim ond dosbarthu meddyginiaethau, ac mewn rhai achosion gallant arbed trip i weld meddyg teulu neu i Adran Damweiniau ac Achosion Brys, a gan nad oes angen i chi wneud apwyntiad, maent yn cynnig ffordd gyflym a hyblyg o gael gwybodaeth am ofal iechyd ac iechyd.”
I gael rhagor o wybodaeth am y gwasanaethau y mae eich fferyllfa leol yn eu cynnig, ewch i: www.bihyweldda.wales.nhs.uk/fferyllfagymunedol
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