The NHS is embarking on one of its most ambitious transformations: becoming the most digitally accessible health service in the world.
This means a future where care is not just faster, but also smarter, more personalised, and more responsive. But for this future to work, it must include everyone…especially the people quietly holding up the system: carents.
Under the new plan, patients will gain unprecedented access to their health records, choose services based on outcomes and location, and even manage long-term conditions digitally through the NHS App. I
nnovations like AI-powered triage, online bookings, and home monitoring tools will soon become everyday features of care.
Yet, for these tools to be truly effective, they must be understood and used. For many older patients, the person helping them navigate these platforms isn’t a clinician or a call centre agent, it’s their adult child, grandchild, or close friend. Carents are already booking appointments, managing medication through apps, and interpreting test results. They are the intermediaries of digital care.
Frailty is increasing across the ageing population. As frailty progresses, difficulties with everyday technology, including phones and basic digital tools, often become more pronounced. This is not just a matter of access, but of ability. It’s a feature of declining health that many people may not be fully aware of. At Carents, we recognise these hidden challenges. That’s why we’re bridging the digital gap not only by ensuring access, but by supporting understanding and continuity of care. Our digital-first model enables us to scale this support and tackle inequality, offering 24/7 guidance and community, wherever people are and whatever their circumstances.
Carents' Contribution
Digital innovation is baked into our DNA. We aim to make navigating health and care easier, more intuitive, and more human:
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Human Yet Digital Support: Carents offers a hybrid experience of peer insight, professional content, and tools designed with real-world carents in mind.
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Product and Service Innovation: Through user testing, feedback, and market research, we co-create solutions that work.
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Virtual Wards and Remote Monitoring: We support digital readiness through education on concepts like virtual wards and remote patient monitoring.
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AI Integration: From AI scribes to care alerts, we help carers make sense of the growing tech ecosystem.
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Peer Support: Our forums and community interactions offer real-time conversation, support, and shared problem-solving.
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Health Tech Alerts: We signpost wide ranging innovative life saving tools tools like Locking Cooker Valves and remote monitoring devices, to keep carents informed and empowered.
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Proxy Access & Digital Permissions: We guide carers through proxy access arrangements and security considerations so they can act on behalf of loved ones.
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Working Carents: For those juggling work and care, our platform is designed to be time-saving, accessible, and relevant offering bite-sized content, key alerts, and helpful nudges at their convenience - 24/7, whenever and wherever they need us.
We also work in partnership with innovators like the Internet of Caring Things and organisations tackling dementia, ensuring our platform connects expertise with public need. We're committed to supporting carents not just with content, but with ongoing digital literacy, inclusive tools, and practical help.
Tackling Digital Exclusion
Despite progress, digital poverty is real. Our role includes:
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Community Education & Signposting: Helping carers find what they need, when they need it.
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Inclusive Design: Ensuring our tools are co-created, tested, and refined with users at all stages of their digital journey.
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Product Signposting: Highlighting prevention tools like Parsley Box (nutrition), IHUS (modular housing for care) and easy-to-use devices like Easology.
The move from analogue to digital is a revolution, but it must be inclusive. By equipping carents with the right tools and support, we help ensure the NHS’s digital ambition becomes a reality for all. At Carents, we are proud to sit at the intersection of compassion and technology helping bridge the gap between innovation and the people who need it most.
Explore More on Our Take on the Key NHS Shifts:
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From Hospital to Community: How Neighbourhood Care Supports the Hidden Workforce
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From Sickness to Prevention: Why Supporting Carents Means Building a Healthier Future for All
