As the NHS and social care services come under increasing pressure, using technology to provide more effective – and cost effective – ways to support families and communities is an absolute must.
This means looking at how our statutory services – GPs, hospitals, community health and social care – can support you through technology. It also means looking at everyday technology solutions – things that you can find and buy yourself - that help you manage care and caring.
Carers UK is working hard on both fronts to make sure carers are included in the drive to explore innovation and find new ways of providing health and care support.
Policy
Carers UK is working with policy partners – NHS England, the National Information Board, Public Health England – to ensure that they think of carers when they are developing digital services like electronic health records, online GP and pharmacy services and patient and carer information.
Carers UK sits on bodies like the Telecare Services Association and Digital Health and Care Alliance to make sure people developing, producing and supplying technology products and services are thinking about how they can benefit carers.
Products and services
Carers UK is also working with funding partners – Innovate UK, Nominet Trust, Nesta – and industry partners – Tunstall, Buddi, Microsoft – to create our own new products and services that can support carers, but also to promote other products and services we believe can deliver a good service and value for money.
Find out more about what Carers UK offers here.
Research
Carers UK has carried out extensive research, through our own members and with the general public, that shows that many people just don’t know about how technology can support caring. They don’t know what technology products and services are available - what they are, how they can help, and where to find them.
Even though many people use technology in lots of ways to make their lives easier – internet shopping, finding information, online banking – they just don’t think of using technology when it comes to care. However, our research also shows that once the benefits of technology-enabled care and support are explained to people, 85% would use it to support health, care and caring.
Latest updates
Carers UK responds to DWP announcement of aim to tackle all Carer’s Allowance overpayment alerts
Carers UK responds to Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) announcement that it will aim to tackle all Carer's Allowance…
Carer Poverty Coalition responds to Government's welfare reform Green Paper
It's extremely worrying that some measures within the Green Paper on Welfare Reform changing disability and health benefits will actively…
Carers UK celebrates Investing in Volunteers award
Carers UK is delighted to have achieved the UK-wide quality mark for organisations involving volunteers during the charity’s 60th anniversary…
New rise in Carer Support Payment in Scotland earnings limit will increase financial security for carers on a low income
Carers Scotland press release on the increase in earnings threshold for Carer Support Payment in 2025.
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