Bourke is making headlines across Ireland, after a Derry company announced the expansion of their technology to help improve health outcomes in Bourke. 

Irish company Access Elemental recently announced their partnership with insurance group nib, with the aim to reduce pressure on public health and allied services.

According to Access Elemental, their software is designed for GPs and other healthcare workers to streamline referrals to local coordinators to help people engage in local programs and services to improve their health and wellbeing. 

The process is known as ‘social prescribing’.

Since the partnership was announced, Bourke has been mentioned in headlines across mastheads like the 'Belfast Telegraph' and 'Irish News'.

It will form part of nib’s ‘care navigation project’ that has been developed in conjuction with local partners, diverting patients to services and activities such as debt advice, fitness classes, gardening clubs and healthy cooking programs.

“We’re really excited to hear about the great things that are going to be happening in the Bourke community and the impact it's going to have on the local community,” Access Elemental Managing Director Jennifer Neff said. 

The technology itself has reportedly supported 358,635 patients, and steered patients towards over 400,000 community activities and is used in Ireland by local authorities, mental health workers, schools and housing organisations.

The nib Bourke program is expected to be launched in Bourke later this year in trying to address timely and comprehensive access to care. 

‘Bourke Pathways’ is aimed at addressing coordination between services and health literacy, and will not be targeted at nib customers, according to nib. 

The contract amount to sign Access Elemental as their digital partner in the project remains undisclosed.