UK HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TO APPOINT CALDICOTT GUARDIANS

The National Data Guardian (NDG) has published guidance under her statutory powers about the appointment, role and responsibilities of Caldicott Guardians in respect of data processing activities.

As this guidance is published under the National Data Guardian’s power to issue guidance described within the Health and Social Care (National Data Guardian) Act 2018, those organisations it applies to are encouraged to become compliant by 30 June 2023.

This change has been introduced in response to a public consultation held by the NDG in 2020 about the Caldicott Principles and Caldicott Guardians and outlines the requirement for all health and social public bodies that "handle confidential information about patients or service users" to have a designated person in place to manage data protection. 

GENOMICS ACCESS FOR DRUG DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

Switzerland-based genomics research company, BCP Platforms has announced a new collaboration with the African Institute of Everyone Genome (AiEG), a South African genomic company focusing on building an integrated clinical and genomics data biobank in Africa. 

As part of the collaboration, BCP’s platform will enable RWD research involving 10 million patient genomes from all 54 African countries, to be collected by AiEG over a period of 10-15 years. The main goal of the research will be to enable drug development and clinical research for patients in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Tero Silvola, CEO, BCP, said: “Supporting regional genomics initiatives and RWE research is an important part of our vision to build the world’s leading analytics platform enabling rapid drug development. We understand the importance and significant opportunity involved in ensuring that African data is represented in Life Sciences research in the near to long term.

"As BCP’s technology and approach is focused on best-in-practice governance with respect to biological samples and longitudinal medical record data, we can help ensure the highest quality standards to support research that will have significant positive impact on the African population.”

CARDIOLOGS' AI SERVICES IMPLEMENTED AT EUROPEAN MEDICAL CENTRES

Paris-based AI cardiology diagnostics company, Cardiologs is collaborating with cardiologists at three medical centers in France to strengthen their cardiology services. 

Over the past year,  Pasteur Clinic (Toulouse), Ambroise Paré Clinic (Neuilly sur Seine) and Cardioréliance – Centre Cardiologique d'Orléans – Pôle Santé Oréliance center (Orléans) have all started using the company's deep learning platform to support clinicians with automated electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis and diagnostics.

The Pasteur Clinic has resulted in a 40% increase in the number of Holter data analyses and an increase in the processing of ECGs.  

Yann Fleureau, CEO of Cardiologs, said: "Since the coronavirus crisis began, medical centers have been quick to realize the challenges they face in managing care for patients with cardiac conditions, including the time it takes to read and assess the growing number of ECGs being processed. The added pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic on providers has made any solution that saves time and promotes telemedicine essential. As a result, we're starting to see a significant uptick in the use of AI, which provides essential support for clinicians so they can dedicate their energy to the treatment of patients." 

IMPRIVATA'S DIGITAL IDENTITY AVAILABLE ON MICROSOFT AZURE

IT security company, Imprivata has announced that it has made two of its digital identity solutions, OneSign and ConfirmID, available on Microsoft Azure.

The solutions provide identity proofing, credential enrolment, recordkeeping and multifactor authentication for all workflows.

The move will mean customers can have access to single sign-on from any device and location, and can also securely access on-premises, legacy systems from private or shared workstations and mobile devices.

Gus Malezis, CEO at Imprivata, said: “Through Imprivata OneSign and Confirm ID, healthcare organisations can securely and conveniently access clinical applications and patient information both inside and outside of the hospital, and from any device, so they can focus on what matters most: delivering high-quality patient care.”

THE PANDEMIC INSITUTE TO SPEED UP VACCINE DEVELOPMENT

The Pandemic Institute has launched in Liverpool, UK, to help prevent, prepare and respond more effectively to pandemics.

The institute will offer clinical and research expertise across all stages of the pandemic lifecycle. Led by professor Matthew Bayliss, the team brings together medical, academic and civic partnerships, which will influence policy, solutions and activity.

"Really significant pandemics may be 100 years apart but we're facing challenges much more regularly than that," explained professor Bayliss.

"This pandemic has shown us that we have to prepare in a way that we've never prepared before. This is a wake-up call for the world," he said.

TELEHEALTH PLATFORM DATA CAN PROVIDE PREDICTIVE INSIGHTS INTO TRENDS

Results of a scientific study by Bambin Gesù Hospital in Rome and telehealth startup Paginemediche have been published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

The report shows that the use of digital medicine platforms and anonymous user data collected online can help predict the spread of an infectious disease, identify geographical locations of higher or lower prevalence, and support pandemic responders.

This insight emerged from a study recently published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) led by digital experts in collaboration with the Predictive and Preventive Medicine Research Unit of the Bambin Gesù Hospital in Rome.

The team of researchers examined a total of 75,557 sessions in the online decision support system (chatbot) developed by Paginemediche, a tool that aims to answer user questions about COVID-19 and recommend the most appropriate behaviour in accordance with the Ministry of Health. 

UK GOV LAUNCHES CONSULTATION ON DATA REFORMS

The UK government is launching a consultation on reforms to create an innovation-friendly data protection programme that underpins the trustworthy use of data.

Bolstering the power of data is one of the government’s 10 Tech Priorities. As set out in the National Data Strategy, it is highlighted that data is a strategic asset and its responsible use should be seen as an opportunity to embrace. This consultation is the first step in delivering on Mission 2 of the National Data Strategy to secure a pro-growth and trusted data regime.

The proposals aim to deliver a data protection regime that will:

• Support vibrant competition and innovation to drive economic growth.
• Maintain high data protection standards without creating unnecessary barriers to responsible data use.
• Keep pace with the rapid innovation of data-intensive technologies.
• Help innovative businesses of all sizes to use data responsibly without undue uncertainty or risk, both in the UK and internationally.
• Ensure the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is equipped to regulate effectively in an increasingly data-driven world.

NTT DATA UK TEAM UP WITH UHL TO UPSKILL HOMELESS COMMUNITY

IT services provider, NTT DATA UK has partnered up with University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) NHS trust, as its service provider, to donate IT equipment to Leicester-based homeless charity, The Bridge.

As well as providing laptops and iPads, the donation will help the charity deliver its Skills Day, an opportunity for Leicester’s homeless community to attend skill-based learning events such as ESOL (English for speakers of other languages), CV writing and interview techniques. 

Gavin Bee, client director for healthcare at NTT DATA UK, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to support our partners at UHL with their donation to The Bridge. At NTT DATA, we believe everyone should have access to the services and equipment they need in order to get the most out of training and education. By helping to ensure the equipment is configured and suited for their needs, the charity will be able to get good use out of the equipment donated and ensure it can help as many people as possible.” 

RESEARCHERS TO DEVELOP MACHINE LEARNING ALGORITHM FOR DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS

Researchers at Oxford University, Imperial College and the University of Sheffield have collaborated with the tech company, ThinkSono to train a machine learning AI algorithm (AutoDVT) to distinguish patients who have deep vein thrombosis (DVT) from those who don't. 

The AI algorithm diagnosis DVT when compared to the gold standard ultrasound scan, and the team worked out that using the algorithm could potentially save health services $150 (€127) per examination.

The technology aims to identify DVT more quickly and as effectively as traditional radiologist-interpreted diagnostic scans, potentially cutting down long patient waiting lists and avoiding patients unnecessarily receiving drugs to treat DVT.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FT HYLAND

NHS Digital Aspirant Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS FT (GHNHSFT) is moving a core element of its electronic medical record system to OnBase, Hyland Healthcare’s content services platform, to enhance interoperability across existing systems.

The trust’s decision to integrate content services and enterprise imaging within one platform, also incorporates the introduction of Hyland’s web-based enterprise diagnostic viewer, NilRead, and Acuo vendor neutral archive (VNA). 

Its partnership with Hyland and the move to a single platform will allow clinical information, including unstructured content, such as consult notes and medical images, such as MRI studies, to be accessible from within a secure archive across clinical specialties and departments. Images and reports will be available in a single view, in patient context within Allscripts EPR workflow, across the trust, while also enabling remote diagnostic image access and interpretation.