HEALTH Reporter Helen Rae explains how an NHS backed website is improving care for patients. 

A FREE social networking website backed by the NHS is improving care for housebound patients and their carers.

Justvisiting.com is a not-for-profit website which is built around a secure interactive message board which creates online visiting rooms where hospital and housebound patients and their carers can meet up and talk to their friends and family.

There are currently more than 15,000 users worldwide with 175 active rooms, where users can access news about a member 24/7 and support the patient’s main carers.

The website, created by three North East volunteers, is believed to be the first of its kind for the UK and is free for patients, carers and loved ones to use.

Close to 30 NHS trusts from around the country are raising awareness of justvisiting.com to their staff and their patients and the site has gone global with hits from as far afield as Saudi Arabia, Asia, New Zealand and Europe with registrations at record levels.

Now the North East-born website is improving support networks and communication for people with long-term conditions and their carers who may be housebound or have limited access to the outside world.

North Tyneside GP Christina Cock, of West Farm Surgery, said: “This is an interesting idea as a way of opening up communication for both hospital patients and people who are housebound due to health reasons, and also their families and carers.

“Visiting relatives in hospital has its own stresses – one of which is communicating the progress information to other family members who may be can’t visit in person – this is a brilliant idea. I will certainly be promoting it with my patients.

“We have a high number of people with long-term conditions in the UK which can leave them housebound and feeling isolated.

“Being able to log onto a website specifically designed for these people to communicate and update their families and friends of their progress is a real breakthrough in their support system.”

She added: “So many of my patients use social networking sites and are very used to using this kind of site.

“The beauty of this site however is that is very simple to use and so even those who are only just starting to use email and the internet will get the hang of it very quickly.”