In his Systems, Not Structures report, minister for health in Northern Ireland (NI) Raphael Bengoa notes: ‘Advances in telecare, telemonitoring and electronic assistive technologies are making a significant difference to the way services are delivered. Used effectively, they can make a valuable contribution to the quality of services by improving coordination of services, overcome geographical distances between patients and providers, enable patients to live independent lives for longer and engage patients in their own health and well-being.’

After setting out the UK and NI contexts for electronic assistive technologies, this article reflects on the role of triage nurses as ‘e-nurses’ in the former NI remote telemonitoring service model. It aims to provide nurses involved in service transformation and workforce planning opportunities to consider how e-nurses and ‘virtual care’ could transform care delivery, while empowering patients.