Bolton-based Lagan’s Healthcare is developing a groundbreaking virtual reality platform – supported by £31,000 innovation funding and wraparound support. 

In 2011, Carren Bell lost her daughter, Lagan, to complex heart defects at just 15 weeks old. Channelling this unimaginable personal tragedy into purpose, she set up Lagan’s Foundation, a charity providing unique home healthcare and respite for North West families and children living with complex health needs.

But that was just the beginning. In 2022, Carren founded Lagan’s Healthcare, a digital health technology organisation focused on raising standards through professional training and support. Now, with backing from GM Business Growth Hub’s Innovation Service, she’s preparing to launch Lagan’s HealthcareVR – immersive virtual reality training that equips care professionals for the real-world challenges of their work. 

Innovative training built around real-world challenges 

“There’s a significant gap in how care workers are currently trained for community-based roles,” explains Carren, who in December 2025 was named Third Sector Leader of the Year at the Women Achieving Greatness Awards. “Most existing solutions are either too theoretical or are designed for hospital environments, meaning they fail to reflect the realities of working in people’s homes, where distractions, unpredictability and environmental challenges are common.

“Training is also inconsistent across the sector, often relying on outdated methods or formats that exclude those with limited access to digital tools. The result is a workforce that feels underprepared, experiences higher stress and faces increased risk of burnout or leaving the profession entirely.”