Health Technology Community Pop-up in Stonehouse

A community-based outpost to address health inequalities
Health Technology Community Pop-up in Stonehouse

The Centre for Health Technology pop-up is open from February 2020. It is located at the Plot, 82-85 Union Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth, PL1 3EZ.

University researchers are going out into the community, creating a Centre for Health Technology pop-up in Stonehouse, Plymouth. As one of the most deprived areas in the UK, the pop-up centre will aim to address health inequalities and social deprivation using digital technology and eHealth solutions. This includes companion robots as well as apps and internet-based health and welfare resources.

Working with community-benefit society, Nudge Community Builders, who own, create and run community activities in disused urban spaces, the pop-up centre will be based in The Plot on Plymouth's Union Street. Working with members of the community will allow researchers to explore how to make better use of eHealth solutions, and contribute to and influence future health technology research.

From December 2019 until April 2020, the pop-up centre will also support business start-ups and the thriving regional, digital entrepreneur network through industry pop-up spaces.

It will bring together an interdisciplinary cohort of University researchers and students from computing, nursing, design, robotics, design, medicine, engineering and architecture.

Free WIFI installed to help residents cope with COVID-19 lockdown

Dr Katharine Willis, Associate Professor in the School of Art, Design and Architecture, said: “COVID-19 is a real challenge for those who lack digital skills or access to technology and the internet. Our research shows that digital divides map to areas of deprivation, and residents in Stonehouse may lack access to internet for GP appointments and keeping in touch with friends and family. This initiative is part of our response to COVID in the Health Tech Hub project, and it shows the value of our partnership with Nudge Community Builders to make a small change in a neighbourhood close to the University campus.”

Find out more this initiative

Partners

A Civic University

The project builds on the research and expertise at the University’s Centre for Health Technology and the EPIC project (eHealth Productivity and Innovation in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly) that drives the development, evaluation and implementation of innovative technologies to transform health and social care.

Aligning our research with local community needs is deeply rooted in our role as a Civic University and we strive to be catalysts for social change and drive forward economic innovation to positively impact health within our communities.

The six-month project is a partnership between the University of Plymouth’s Centre for Health Technology and Nudge Community Builders, Plymouth Community Homes, Plymouth City Council, Crowdfund Ready and Adelaide Street GP surgery. The project is funded through the UKRI place-based partnerships for public engagement. This is a pathfinder funding opportunity to support eligible research organisations UK-wide to pilot place-based public engagement partnerships and activities.

Centre for Health Technology

Bringing together digital health and health technology expertise from across the University to drive the development, evaluation and implementation of innovative technologies, products, services and approaches to transform health and social care.

Find out more about our Centre for Health Technology.