Heart patients could now do their rehab remotely as ‘transformative’ plans get NHS green light

People with heart problems will be able to complete rehabilitation online in their homes rather than waiting for face-to-face appointments.

Experts said the programmes “offer real potential to transform” how this type of care is delivered to individual patients.

Six online platforms have been conditionally recommended to the NHS to support adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in new draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

They are Activate Your Heart, D REACH-HF, Digital Heart Manual, Gro Health HeartBuddy, KiActiv and myHeart.

Uptake for cardiac rehabilitation programmes, which can reduce the risk of further heart problems and hospital admissions, is low, according to NICE.

Each platform is designed to offer cardiac rehabilitation online, including exercise programmes, advice on diet, medication management and psychological support.

Some of the platforms also include wearable devices to monitor activity levels.

Dr Anastasia Chalkidou, healthtech programme director at NICE, said: “These digital platforms offer real potential to transform how cardiac rehabilitation is offered to people to meet their individual circumstances.

“We know that traditional programmes aren’t reaching everyone who could benefit – particularly women, younger patients and people from ethnic minority backgrounds.”

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Source: The Independent, 19 August 2025