Closing the equity gap through digital prevention

Health inequalities remain a major challenge in the UK, especially for young people living with long-term conditions like asthma, epilepsy, and learning disabilities. The NHS’s Core20PLUS5 initiative aims to close these gaps by focusing on those most at risk: the most deprived 20% of the population (“Core20”), plus groups who face additional barriers to care, such as people with learning disabilities, ethnic minority communities, or those experiencing homelessness. For children and young people the five priority areas are asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, mental health and dental care.

But how do we turn these priorities into real-world change? Prevention is key. The government’s 10 Year Health Plan highlights the importance of supporting adolescents and families before health problems escalate. Yet, investment in digital prevention for these groups remains disproportionately low, despite evidence that it can deliver rapid returns – both in improved health and reduced costs for the NHS. For example, studies show that every £1 spent on digital health tools for young people can yield £8.21 in savings by reducing hospital admissions and improving self-management (1).

Sharing our experience: The Digital Health Passport

At Tiny Medical Apps, we developed the Digital Health Passport (DHP) to help young people manage conditions like asthma, epilepsy, and learning disabilities. The DHP is a user-friendly mobile app that puts health information, reminders, and support directly into the hands of those who need it most. It’s been independently assessed and reviewed by national teams, and our data shows that it delivers a strong return on investment – driven by better self-management, treatment adherence, and avoidance of triggers.

But the real innovation isn’t just in the technology. It’s in how we deploy it – making sure it reaches the right families, in the right places, and in ways that work for them.

Lessons learned: Equitable deployment

Deploying digital health tools at scale doesn’t happen overnight. Our experience has taught us that success depends on community activation, not just building new tech. Here are some practical lessons we’ve learned:

• Go where young people are: Online platforms like TikTok and Instagram are powerful tools for reaching adolescents in deprived areas. Over half our users come from the two most deprived quintiles, thanks to targeted digital campaigns.
• Partner with schools and communities: While smartphone use in schools is limited, working with asthma- and epilepsy-friendly schools helps us reach parents and carers, building trust and speeding up adoption.
• Think outside the box: Traditional media still matters. Local newspaper articles and interior bus advertising are being tested. We want to reach young people where they have free wifi and time to engage with the core resources .
• Measure Impact: Transparency is vital. We use dashboard reports to track reach by deprivation level, usage of key features, engagement, and outcome proxies. This helps us ensure that our deployment is truly equitable and allows us to adapt our approach based on real data.

Advice for others

If you’re considering deploying digital health solutions to support health equity in your medium term strategy, here are our top tips:

1. Start with the most deprived area: Front-load community engagement to accelerate benefits.
2. Build partnerships early: Schools, pharmacies, and local groups are invaluable allies.
3. Track and share your impact: Use metrics to guide your strategy and demonstrate value.
4. Listen and adapt: Be ready to learn from your users and refine your approach.

Digital prevention isn’t a silver bullet, but it’s a powerful tool for closing the equity gap – when deployed thoughtfully and with the community at its heart.

Find out more about the Digital Health Passport here

Sources:

1. https://uclpartners.com/project/using-a-digital-health-passport-to-improve-asthma-care/