CTRL + Care – Digital Care Hub’s podcast – brings you the week’s most important updates in adult social care, digital transformation, and cyber security.
Hosted by Michelle Corrigan our Chief Executive and Katie Thorn, our Operations Director, this short and snappy weekly podcast is for busy care professionals who want to stay informed on what truly matters, without all the noise.
Each 20–30 minute episode breaks down the key stories shaping the future of digital care, from cyber threats and data protection to the latest guidance, tools, and success stories from across the sector.
Episodes are available every Friday morning on YouTube and Spotify – and from January 2026 we’re adding them here.
In this episode of CTRL + Care, we explore what the latest policy signals mean for the future of health and social care—from the growing role of AI and digital transformation in the King’s Speech to new investment in research and innovation. We discuss whether technology can truly make care more human, or if it risks adding pressure to an already stretched workforce, and why trust, culture and people—not just tools—will determine success. Plus, we look at new work on evidence standards for care tech, promising developments in dementia research, and why turning innovation into everyday practice remains one of the sector’s biggest challenges.
Introducing Hazel our cyber squirrel
Episode 40 – 8 May 2026
In this episode, Michelle and Katie reflect on the Care Show, unpack the BMA’s call for GP collective action on data sharing, and explore what the latest UK Cyber Security Breaches Survey means for adult social care. They also spotlight innovation from the University of Liverpool’s adult social care testbed and finish with an inspiring story from Japan, where robotic avatars are redefining accessible work.
Data trust on trial: Biobank, Palantir and what comes next
Episode 39 – 1 May 2026
In this episode of, we’re digging into data trust — and what happens when governance and public confidence start to wobble. We unpack the story of UK Biobank data being listed for sale, why it’s being treated as a misuse of legitimate access rather than a hack, and what that means for oversight, contracts, and long-term participation in research.
Busting the Mythos: AI, hacks and health & care
Episode 38 – 24 April 2026
In this episode of CTRL + Care, Katie and Michelle explore rising cyber risks across health and social care, from NHS‑wide cyber resilience to high‑profile hacks targeting organisations like Rockstar Games. They discuss growing concerns about powerful AI tools such as Anthropic’s Mythos, and what AI‑driven threat detection means for sectors with lower cyber maturity like adult social care. The episode also unpacks new findings on health and digital literacy, highlighting widening inequalities and the impact of misinformation and AI on public understanding.
Palantir, platforms and panic (just a little)
Episode 37 – 17 April 2026
In this episode, Katie and Michelle cut through the noise around one of the most contentious topics in digital health and care: Palantir and the NHS Federated Data Platform. They unpack what’s being debated in Parliament, why concerns about transparency, trust and vendor lock‑in persist, and what this means for data use across health and social care—especially where effective local solutions already exist.
The conversation then travels to Australia, exploring the backlash to a mandatory algorithmic assessment tool in aged care and the risks of technology overriding professional judgement.
The episode also reflects on a new international standard for social care, asking whether global frameworks can genuinely improve quality without adding burden to providers. Rounding things off are reflections on women’s health innovation funding, a campaign reframing the value of social care, and a powerful reminder that inclusion and difference are essential drivers of innovation.
Progress, pressure and the real cost of care
Episode 36 – 10 April 2026
In this episode of CTRL + Care, Katie and Michelle look at why social care in England has improved slightly, but is still under real pressure. They talk about why extra funding hasn’t fixed the system, and why rising costs and workforce challenges remain a serious risk. The episode explores how night‑time care needs to change, and how smarter, needs‑led monitoring can improve safety and dignity without replacing staff. They also discuss technology, data and AI, and why care should always be guided by people’s needs and values, not just systems or tools.
What tech promises vs What staff experience
Episode 35 – 3 April 2026
The future of digital care: funding, access and reality checks
Episode 34 – 27 March 2026
It’s a big week on Ctrl + Care, with Michelle and Katie joining from a packed run of conferences, from Rewired to Madrid and our AI in Care Summit. They unpack a new data-led pilot helping councils shift from crisis response to prevention, and a reported £7.4 billion investment in NHS tech, asking whether the real focus is finally on making technology work, not just buying it. There’s also a more sobering conversation on care leavers and barriers to employment, plus new research on digital health equity and why access still isn’t where it needs to be. And in this week’s Cyber Squirrel, a more hopeful take on smart glasses shows what happens when tech is designed with people in mind.
Who trusts AI in healthcare? Plus new digital care data
AI, online safety and the data care dilemma
Episode 29 – 20 February 2026
In this week’s episode, Michelle is rejoined by Katie! They unpack online safety and protecting vulnerable adults and children, incredible insights from the Centre for Care’s Impact Report on unpaid carers and digital dashboards, and explore how tech, data, and care intersect. Plus, Michelle and Katie share a “cyber squirrel” story highlighting tech combating wildlife trafficking in Africa proving that innovation isn’t just for humans!
Data, doubt and digital direction
Episode 28 – 13 February 2026
This week, Michelle is joined by guest host Damon Habbin from Lincolnshire Care Association for a data deep dive into the digital tensions shaping health and social care. They explore growing concerns around data sovereignty, as European governments rethink their reliance on US tech platforms, and what that means for trust in public services. The conversation looks at AI ambition versus data readiness, and why poor quality, siloed data could hardwire bias into systems if the foundations are not right.
This week on CTRL + Care, Michelle is joined by Lewis Stewart from techUK while Katie’s away, for a fast-paced rundown of the digital care stories shaping the sector. They discuss a new report on the future of social care and why data, standards, and interoperability are still holding progress back. The conversation also explores ADASS’s new AI playbook, Lewis shares what techUK is working on in adult social care.
