It's Get Online Week from 19th – 25th October and Frome Medical Practice and Health Connections Mendip are offering patients extra support so they can use technology to benefit not just their health, but their lives in general.

This year has shown us just how much of a difference the Internet and being online can make to our lives. But for many people making video calls to their friends, ordering their shopping or arranging repeat prescriptions using their mobile phone is all still something of a mystery.

It's known that nationally nine milllion people in the UK can't use the Internet or their device without help and 4.7 million people don't have any digital skills at all. This has left these people feeling even more isolated than ever. If this sounds like you then help is at hand.

Rachel Haupt, Digital Health Connector at Frome Medical Practice explained: "My role at the practice is specifically about helping people get online. Over the last few months I've helped hundreds of our patients access the NHS App, which means they can now order repeat prescriptions, check test results and make some of their medical appointments online. But in doing this I recognise that people need more help with some of the day to day tasks we can use our phones and other devices for and so, working with Health Connections Mendip, we are running Digital Workshops in November to support people with this."

Will Palmer, Health Connector at Health Connections Mendip added: "We are really looking forward to seeing the difference these workshops will make to people's lives. Simple things that many of us take for granted, like seeing our friends and family online or doing an online shop, will hopefully become a reality for more of our patients after taking part."

You can find out more about the workshops, which are free to join, by clicking HERE: the FMP site

As well as the 'Get Online Digital Workshops' Health Connections Mendip continue to offer Digital Community Connector training. This training is for anyone in the local community who wants to be able to help family, friends and neighbours by passing on tips and useful resources to help them get the most out of being online. You can find out more about joining one of the monthly hour long Digital Community Connector training sessions. More details click HERE : for on line training