May 1st 2026
It has been an exhausting and exhilarating week for the Digital Care Hub team at Care Show London. From early starts to packed sessions and a constant flow of conversations on the stand, the energy never really dipped. Our stand was busy throughout, our speaking sessions sparked thoughtful discussion, and we had hundreds of conversations with providers, partners, and innovators across adult social care.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by the stand or joined a session with us. Your questions, insights, and shared experiences continue to shape our work.
Digital is now part of everyday care
Across conversations on the stand and in our sessions, delegates told us how much has changed in a relatively short time. Digital is now part of everyday practice. It is no longer something separate from care delivery, but woven into it.
What we heard in sessions was a strong focus on making systems work in real settings. Providers are thinking about how digital tools fit into workflows, how they support staff, and how they improve outcomes. When it works well, the benefits are clear. Staff have more time, information is easier to access, and decisions feel more confident and informed. That translates into safer and more responsive care.
The challenge of finding the “right” system
At the same time, delegates told us that getting to that point is not straightforward. Finding the right system remains one of the biggest challenges.
No single platform meets every need. This came through particularly strongly from supported living providers, especially those supporting people with learning disabilities and autistic people. Many described how difficult it is to find rostering systems that reflect the complexity of their services. The market often caters for the majority, which leaves gaps for more specialist provision.
We also heard about the practical barriers to change. Procurement processes can be lengthy and switching systems is disruptive. Some providers feel they have little choice but to stay with systems that do not fully meet their needs or that staff find hard to use. Over time, this affects confidence and makes it harder for the workforce to keep up with digital developments.
AI is moving fast, but confidence is still catching up
Walking around the exhibition floor, it was impossible to miss the scale of AI-focused products. Delegates pointed out the growing number of AI assistants, transcription tools, and AI-enabled care solutions now on offer.
What we heard, however, was not just excitement. Many providers told us they are unsure how to navigate this space. The technology is evolving quickly, but confidence in how to assess and adopt it is still developing. Providers are looking for clear, practical guidance that helps them understand what these tools mean in practice, how to use them safely, and how to decide what is right for their service.
Cyber security is becoming central to quality
Cyber security came up in almost every conversation. Delegates told us they are familiar with the Data Security and Protection Toolkit and have policies in place. The questions they are asking now are more practical.
On the stand, providers asked about recovering from cyber incidents, whether they should maintain paper backups, and how to have more effective conversations with IT providers. These are real-world concerns that go beyond meeting requirements.
What we heard in sessions reflected this shift. Cyber security is increasingly seen as part of delivering safe, high-quality care. It protects people’s information, supports continuity, and builds trust. Our Cyber Sam sessions helped bring these issues to life, prompting people to think differently about everyday risks such as passwords and phishing.
Inclusion, access, and skills
Delegates also highlighted where more work is needed. Unpaid carers were frequently mentioned as a group who feel left behind, often interacting with systems in different ways and not benefiting from the same investment in digital.
Language barriers came up repeatedly in conversations on the stand. Providers asked about systems that offer translation options to support staff whose first language is not English, particularly for training and care records. Alongside this, workforce skills remain a challenge. Where systems are difficult to use or hard to change, it becomes even harder for staff to build confidence.
Strong interest in practical support
There was strong interest in the Digital Care Hub’s support offer throughout the event. Delegates told us they value practical, accessible guidance that helps them take action.
Our e-learning, webinars, Data Security and Protection Toolkit support, and policy templates all generated interest. We also had many conversations about our partnerships, with providers keen to understand how joined-up support can help them move forward.
These conversations reinforced the importance of continuing to provide clear, practical support that responds to what providers are experiencing on the ground. The Digital Care Hub will continue to build on this, offering guidance, tools, and learning opportunities to help providers navigate system choice, strengthen cyber security, and make confident decisions about emerging technologies such as AI.
A busy stand and a new mascot
Alongside the learning, there were some lighter moments. Our “name our cyber squirrel” competition proved very popular, with plenty of creative suggestions shared at the stand.
We are delighted to introduce Hazel the Cyber Squirrel, who is nuts about cyber security. Congratulations to Christina Rogers from Vintage Revelations, who received the prize during a live recording of our Ctrl+Care podcast, coming soon.
Care Show London reflected a sector that is continuing to adapt and build confidence in digital. Delegates told us they are ready to move forward, with a focus on using technology well and making it work in practice. The challenge now is to ensure they have the right support, skills, and systems to do that with confidence, and we will continue to support the sector every step of the way.
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