UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Heart patients will receive remote rehab via six NHS-approved apps, giving access to exercise, diet advice, and support directly on their phones.
As reported by The Telegraph, heart patients can now undergo rehabilitation from home using specially designed mobile apps.
How will NHS apps change heart rehabilitation for patients?
The NHS has approved six digital platforms to provide remote rehabilitation programmes for people living with heart disease or recovering from heart attacks and strokes.
Patients using the new digital rehab apps will have access to personalised workouts, nutrition advice, medicine management and psychological care.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has approved the apps for a three-year provisional licence across England while further evidence on their effectiveness is reviewed.
Health experts said the programme could transform how such care is provided to individuals.
According to Nice, fewer than half of patients take part in NHS heart rehabilitation, as the body continues to assess the value of treatments and medical technologies.
The watchdog approved six out of 13 digital platforms it reviewed. These include:
- Activate Your Heart
- D REACH-HF
- Digital Heart Manual
- Gro Health HeartBuddy
- KiActiv
- myHeart
Several platforms have already been trialled in NHS regions, but all approved apps will now be offered nationwide to local healthcare providers.
What did Dr Anastasia Chalkidou say about cardiac rehab apps?
Dr Anastasia Chalkidou, the health tech programme director at Nice, said the apps
“offer real potential to transform how cardiac rehabilitation is offered to people to meet their individual circumstances.”
She stated,
“We know that traditional programmes aren’t reaching everyone who could benefit – particularly women, younger patients and people from ethnic minority backgrounds.”
Ms Chalkidou said,
“The early data is promising and suggests, with safeguards in place, more people should now be given the opportunity to use these new technologies.”
She added,
“This three-year evidence collection period will give us the additional robust data we need to determine whether these innovations should be recommended as a permanent part of cardiac care.”
How will patients be assessed before accessing online rehab?
A healthcare professional must assess patients before granting access to new online rehabilitation apps.
Nice warned that vulnerable groups, including older people, disabled patients, homeless individuals and those who do not speak English, may require greater support.
The conditional recommendation is now open for consultation, which will remain open until September 3.
Which digital rehab platforms were rejected by NICE?
Out of 13, seven apps did not get approval. They require a more critical review before they can be funded or receive approval.
These include Beat Better, Datos Health, Get Ready, Luscii vitals, Pumping Marvellous Cardiac Rehab Platform, R Plus Health and Sword Move.
What did Wes Streeting say about the NHS digital shift?
Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated,
“This potentially transformational discharge tool is a prime example of how we’re shifting from analogue to digital as part of our 10-year health plan.”
He said,
“We’re using cutting-edge technology to build an NHS fit for the future and tackle the hospital backlogs that have left too many people waiting too long.”
Mr Streeting added,
“Doctors will spend less time on paperwork and more time with patients, getting people home to their families faster and freeing up beds for those who need them most.”
What did Peter Kyle say about AI in the NHS?
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle stated,
“This is exactly the kind of change we need, AI being used to give doctors, probation officers and other key workers more time to focus on delivering better outcomes and speeding up vital services.”
He said,
“This Government inherited a public sector decimated by years of underinvestment and is crying out for reform.”
Mr Kyle added,
“These AI exemplars show the best ways in which we’re using tech to build a smarter, more efficient state. When we get this right across government, we’re talking about unlocking £45 billion in productivity gains, delivering our plan for change and investing in growth, not bureaucracy.”
Heart patients in the UK
Over 7.6 million people in the UK live with heart and circulatory diseases. These conditions cause around 174,693 deaths each year—an average of 480 daily.
Nearly half of UK adults have high cholesterol, while poor glucose control affects 49% of men and 41% of women, raising their risk of heart disease.