Using the NHS Scotland Digital Library
Category: Blog, News, Professional Development
by Donna Watson, Knowledge Manager at NESDigital, NHS Education for Scotland.
The Knowledge Network and Social Services Knowledge Scotland give access to high quality health and social care related resources. They also offer training opportunities on topics such as finding evidence and health literacy.
These platforms have been around for several years, but there is still an idea that these resources are ‘just for hospital staff’.
In fact, there are many other health and social care workforce (and students) who can access the resources and qualify for an NHS Scotland OpenAthens account- the key to unlocking access to these great resources.
Eligibility for an NHS Scotland OpenAthens account is open to all NHS Scotland employees and contractors, and social services partners in all sectors. Eligible users include:
- Scottish Government employees, including the executive agencies
- Local Authority staff in addition to social services working in partnership with health services (e.g., through community health partnerships)
- Healthcare staff in the prison service, nursing and care homes, hospices, armed forces and emergency services including offshore medics, providing cover where NHS staff cannot reach
- Voluntary and third sector organisations working in partnership with health and social services
- Students who have placements or training with the NHS and social services, and those providing education and training to NHS and social services staff and students
- Researchers and lecturers working in partnership with the NHS and retired NHS staff
- Library staff in Higher and Further Education, Public librarians, and staff at community information centres
- Members of the public with lived experience collaborating with NHS researchers or providing health and social care in their own homes
So, you can see it includes all those involved in helping to look after the health and wellbeing of Scotland’s population!
Access to high quality, reliable health and wellbeing information, and having the skills to find, use, understand and communicate it are key aspects of the Collective Force for Health and Wellbeing Action Plan. The plan aims to establish libraries as a go-to place for health and wellbeing information. The Information for Wellbeing Course helps improve skills and confidence to support the health and wellbeing of others (please scroll below to watch the official launch of the course at the 2022 CILIPS Annual Conference). If you are looking for high quality patient information, then head towards NHS Inform.
How do you register for an NHS Scotland OpenAthens account? The Knowledge Network registration page and Social Services Knowledge Scotland register page give you all the details you need to create an account. From there you can explore the resources and opportunities.
If you have any questions, then contact us at knowledge@nes.scot.nhs.uk