Digital Health Coffee Time Briefing ☕

Your morning summary of digital health news, information and events to know about if you want to be “in the know”.

???? News 

???? The winners of the Health Inequalities Targeted Call, a collaborative initiative supported by NHS Innovation Accelerator, NHS England, and NHS Race and Health Observatory, were announced at The Royal Society of Medicine conference, ‘Tackling Inequalities: Through innovation and entrepreneurship’ last week. C2-Ai and Sickle Cell Society emerged victorious in the search for innovative solutions aimed at addressing healthcare inequalities. 

???? Quibim, the company pioneering the use of imaging biomarkers for precision medicine, has revealed it has added an industry-leading cancer detection capability to its prostate tool based on AI, QP-Prostate. The updated product, which uses algorithms trained on actual pathology data as ground truth, has been given a CE mark for the European Union and a UKCA mark for the United Kingdom, meaning it is cleared to be used by clinicians in those markets. QP-Prostate uses AI to speed up the processing of images, increase the accuracy of radiologists who identify signs of cancer and help them pass on actionable data points to oncology departments. 

???? PulseAI has unveiled a new AI algorithm poised to redefine the landscape of cardiac health monitoring. The new technology combines AI with electrocardiogram data, empowering individuals to proactively assess and understand their heart health with unprecedented precision. PulseAI’s innovative algorithm promises to enhance diagnostic accuracy, enabling users to monitor their cardiovascular well-being seamlessly. The initiative by PulseAI marks a pivotal moment in the intersection of healthcare and technology, ushering in a new era where advanced AI algorithms empower individuals to take charge of their cardiovascular health. 

???? Nourish’s digital records system has saved Priory, the UK’s leading independent provider of mental health services, more than 80,000 staff hours, releasing them from admin tasks and allowing more time for direct resident support. As a result, Priory has been nominated at the 2023/24 Health Tech Awards for its use of the system. The new Nourish system has enabled the digitisation of Priory’s adult care resident support plans and risk assessments and has significantly reduced use of paper forms saving an estimated 84,554 hours per annum in staff time. After an 18-month rollout, the digital system has been implemented at 190 resident sites nationwide and is used in the care provided to more than 2,300 residents.  

???? The World Health Organization (WHO) is releasing new guidance on the ethics and governance of large multi-modal models (LMMs) – a type of fast growing generative AI technology with applications across health care. The guidance outlines over 40 recommendations for consideration by governments, technology companies, and health care providers to ensure the appropriate use of LMMs to promote and protect the health of populations. 

❓ Did you know that? 

The NHS is calling for more young people to give blood as figures show more than half of donors in the south west are aged 45 or over. Statistics released by NHS Blood and Transplant, based in Filton, Bristol, show the region has the highest proportion of older blood donors in England. Over-45s make up 56% of regular donors, a rise of 4% in the last five years. During that period, the proportion of young donors aged 17 to 24 has halved. 

???? What we’re reading 

Telehealth and Mental Health: Strengths and Drawbacks – written by Drs. Aditi U. Joshi and Brandon M. Welch 

???? This week’s events 

24 January, Westminster Health Forum – Priorities and next steps for tackling antimicrobial resistance in the UK