NHS ENGLAND STAFF FACE REDUNDANCY UNDER ICS REFORMS

Following plans to reform integrated care systems across the NHS, NHSE has stated that its employment commitment to protect jobs for most commissioning staff will not apply to senior NHSE/I staff in clinical commissioning groups.

The recently published new employment guidance has stated that there will be no commitment in relation to “senior posts within NHSE/I functions that are expected to be the responsibility/function of an ICS in the future”.

NHSE/I said in a statement: “Assessments will take place locally for senior colleagues when new executive level structures are confirmed. The NHS will ensure that as we work on these important changes, staff are fully supported any uncertainty is minimised.”

GE HEALTHCARE AND WAYRA ANNOUNCE AI STARTUPS

The Edison Accelerator in EMEA, a healthcare startup and scale-up acceleration programme designed by GE Healthcare in partnership with the innovation organisation, Wayra UK, has selected five startups to become the first cohort.  

The startups all focus on applying AI to medical imaging, operational AI in oncology and using AI to improve the patient experience. 

The startups that were chosen, demonstrate innovative and scalable solutions to pressing problems in the healthcare sector such as diagnostic accuracy and slow patient pathways, and include, Legit Health, Spryt, Radiobotics, Lucida Medica and Vinehealth.

BARKING, HAVERING AND REDBRIDGE TO IMPROVE STROKE CARE

UK-based Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospital NHS trust is implementing AI-powered software to improve its response to stroke care.

The Brainomix software will analyse CT images of the brain and blood vessels and alert clinicians of any blocked blood vessels to indicate areas of damage.

The new technology encompasses a set of tools to help doctors diagnose heart attacks more accurately. It also includes an algorithm to detect lung cancer, a mental health app and technology to identify undiagnosed spinal fractures.

The project comes off the back of the UK government announcing a £36 million AI research boost for the NHS, where 38 AI projects are set to benefit as part of the NHS AI Lab's £140 million AI in health and care award.

DUBAI HEALTH AUTHORITY INTRODUCES ONLINE HEALTH FACILITY INSPECTION

The Dubai Health Authority’s Health Regulation Sector has introduced online inspections for health facilities to accelerate the adoption of digital technology in the region.

Although in-person inspections will continue, the sector will adopt the digital method for areas where online inspections are possible. In February, DHA’s Health Regulation Sector introduced the pilot and then began implementing online inspections in March.

Dr Marwan Al Mulla, CEO of Health Regulation Sector at the DHA said: “We adapted to changes during the pandemic and we saw an opportunity to enhance online inspections where possible. For example, for checking new services that are introduced in healthcare facilities etc. The inspections will ensure faster turnaround time, more efficiency and will save costs as well. We have always focused on using healthcare technologies to improve efficiencies, speed up processes and provide our stakeholders with added convenience.”

NORTHERN LINCOLNSHIRE AND GOOLE NHS FT LAUNCH TECH FOR COVID-19

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS FT (NLAG) has implemented the Healthcare Communications Patient Engagement Portal across its outpatient service.

The new platform is also supporting NLAG in its recovery from the COVID–19 pandemic by allowing patients to reschedule and cancel appointments via their mobile devices, reducing the number of ‘did not attend’ appointments (DNAs).

The patient portal delivers digital appointment letters to patients, improving trust capacity and easing admin burden amongst staff.

Since going live with the technology, over 26,000 digital messages have been delivered to patients, with 48% of users adding appointments to their calendars. In addition, through digital cancellations and re-bookings, over 900 appointments have been reutilised for waiting-list patients.

GPS MISTAKENLY GIVEN ACCESS TO ONLINE PENSION DATA

A number of UK GPs found they were mistakenly given access to other people's pension information in a system error which has been described by GP Survival chair Dr John Hughes as a 'serious breach of confidentiality'.

The glitch meant that when GPs looked at their accounts, the system would present a list of names and their pension numbers, which could be used to access someone's pension payment details.  

This latest error follows news of around 1,000 GP practices having not received their QOF payments this month.