Industry news in brief

April’s industry news in brief features YouGov research that suggests UK adults are open to using new health technology, and news that Mictrotest has officially sealed the deal NHS Wales Informatics Service to be one of two suppliers for GP clinical IT systems in the country.

YouGov research suggests UK adults open to using new health tech

New research has suggested UK adults are open to using new health technology.

According to new YouGov research, which involved around 2000 people, British adults are open to using new technologies to keep well – and a significant number already are.

Some 50% of British adults who used prescription or non-prescription medication over the last year would find a voice-activated reminder to take their medication on time ‘useful’, according to the YouGov survey.

Furthermore, more than a quarter (26%) of Britons have actively used digital technology – smart fitness watches, health tracking apps, and so on – to track their health and fitness.

The research was commissioned by digital studio ustwo.

“Adherence is one of the biggest issues in healthcare today. We think there are real opportunities for digital technologies to help address that, and services like Alexa and Google Home will clearly be part of the solution,” said Nicki Sprinz, ustwo’s managing director.

“The way people have welcomed them into their homes is fascinating – the challenge now is to find really useful things they can do. It might be via daily reminders to take medication (perhaps integrated into a calendaring skill) or by enabling us to contact our GPs or pharmacist if we need a repeat prescription.”

UK Startup isoshealth announces expert advisory board

Isoshealth has launched an expert advisory board formed by leading psychologists, physiotherapists, nutritionists and sports experts.

Danny Donachie, head of medicine and sports science at Aston Villa Football Club, psychologist Dr Bijal Chheda-Varma, and athlete Paula Radcliffe MBE have all been appointed to the health and well-being platform’s board.

Customers can obtain healthcare advice and treatment from a multidisciplinary team of practitioners formed by a dietitian, a physiotherapist and a psychologist.

Healthcare booking platform Findoc reaches 25,000 online bookings

Healthcare booking platform Findoc has reached 25,000 online bookings since it launched in 2016.

The service provides a 24/7 online booking platform for healthcare professionals to offer their patients as well as allowing patients to find their nearest healthcare professionals such as GPs, physiotherapists and dentists and read patient reviews.

Findoc now has a community of 5,500 healthcare professionals across 50 specialties and 110 healthcare establishments, including hospitals, clinics and centres.

It has over 3,000 patient reviews, a number that is growing all the time, and more than 25,000 online bookings.

Xavier Bernal, founder of Findoc said: “Healthcare is lagging behind other service industries in providing a booking system that patients want.

“Booking online has become the norm for restaurants, flights and hotels but very few people have the option to book their healthcare online.

“Frequently, patients have to book appointments over the telephone which can be time consuming and restricted to opening hours, not to mention lacking in the security and privacy that patients want.”

Microtest sign contract to supply GP surgeries in NHS Wales

Microtest has officially signed a contract with NHS Wales Informatics Service to be one of two suppliers for GP clinical IT systems in the country.

The contract followed a “rigorous procurement process,” Microtest said.

Suppliers were asked to demonstrate the ability to meet NHS Wales’ core clinical and technical requirements and the challenges of the wider primary care agenda.

Microtest and INPS Vision are the two suppliers that have achieved ‘preferred vendor’ status within the NHS Wales framework.

Chris Netherton, Microtest’s managing director, says: “We are thrilled to have signed the contract with NHS Wales Informatics Service, which is a significant milestone for the company. We look forward to working with GP surgeries across Wales, helping practices to provide excellent patient care.”

Digital health ecosystem to be developed in Wales

NHS Wales Informatics and the Life Sciences Hub Wales has announced a collaboration that will see them develop a digital health ecosystem in Wales.

The partnership is supported by Welsh Government’s Efficiency Through Technology Programme and will be known as the Digital Health Ecosystem Wales (DHEW) network.

Its key aim will be to create a new ecosystem to help develop digital applications and services in Wales.

The project, due to run until 2020, will involve software development by the Informatics Service and engagement of stakeholders by the Life Sciences Hub, through a series of events and information sharing meetings.

The Informatics Service will also be responsible for providing the technical platform as well.

Personalised health technology company joins EIT Digital Accelerator

Personalised health technology company Atlas Biomed has joined EIT Digital to accelerate its development plans and access new European and international markets.

The company offers both DNA and Microbiome testing kits for use at home.

Both tests feed into an online platform, which allows consumers to take control of their health through actionable, precise and personalised lifestyle recommendations.

Atlas Biomed’s CEO, Sergey Musienko, said: “Good personal health starts with prevention. We must face the facts: more and more people are suffering from diseases like obesity and diabetes. Knowing your body and its workings has never been more important.  Understanding your body from the inside out can help you to take control of your health and be clearer on the potential risks, turning attitudes to healthcare from reactive to proactive.”

First ever AI-based digital pathology cancer diagnosis system deployed in Israel

An AI-based digital pathology cancer diagnosis system has been deployed in Israel.

Ibex Medical Analytics has deployed the technology in the pathology institute of Maccabi Healthcare Services, one of the largest healthcare providers in Israel and Ibex’s strategic partner.

The computer software identifies various cell types and can grade cancerous cells.

Dr Judith Sandbank, chief medical officer at Ibex Medical Analytics, said: “We are excited to be the first compan

“It is extremely pleasing that our system has already positively affected a patient. We are now putting our full focus on making this system commercially available.”