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

MYndspan and MEGIN have partnered to bring clinical-grade brain function analysis directly to consumers. Starting with MYndspan’s flagship location in London later this year, consumers will be able to access magnetoencephalography (MEG) brain scans, providing in-depth insights into brain health. Traditionally, MEG technology has been confined to hospitals and research institutions.

Sheffield City Council has introduced the Yorkshire and Humber Care Record (YHCR) – making it the first authority in South Yorkshire to do so. The YHCR has been developed by Interweave, and allows healthcare professionals to access all important health information across multiple systems in one structured format. The South Yorkshire Shared Card Record programme is introducing the YHCR to regional organisations as part of NHS England’s Connecting Care Records initiative.

Dr.Noon CVD, an AI-powered cardiovascular screening technology using retinal imaging, is to debut at two major optical conferences this month. The tool, from Heart Eye Diagnostics Limited, analyses retinal vessel images with AI technology to predict future cardiovascular risks in just three minutes. The non-invasive screening is a more accessible alternative to traditional screening methods.

A team at NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool’s Broadgreen Hospital has carried out the first robotic assisted knee replacement surgery in the UK using a new system. Johnson & Johnson’s VELYS Robotic Assisted Solution improves implant alignment and placement, helping to enhance surgical accuracy, reduce pain and speed up recovery.

A £2 million, five-year contract is being offered by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust with the Kent and Medway Cancer Collaborative, for a cancer information system to support its cancer pathway. The platform will be used to manage referrals for suspected cancer; ongoing treatment; self-supported management pathways via NHS login and patient portal; holistic needs assessment; treatment summaries; and screening and surveillance of liver and lung cancers. The application deadline is 11 April 2025.

Did you know

Healthcare has overtaken finance as the most breached sector, according to Kroll’s 2025 Data Breach Outlook.

The report uses data collected by Kroll’s Identity Theft and Breach Notification (ITBN) team about incidents in 2024.

Last year, saw the healthcare sector account for 23% of all breaches, just ahead of the finance sector with 22% of all breaches. In addition, Kroll also revealed that the healthcare industry had fairly immature incident response practices, and “unfortunately suffered numerous cyberattacks culminating in a year that left healthcare boards thinking deeply of the overall risk to their business.”

In 2024 high profile attacks on the UK health system included incidents at NHS Dumfries and Galloway, Alder Hey Children’s NHS FT, and NHS pathology provider Synnovis.

What we’re reading

The government has published its Digital Inclusion Action Plan to increase digital skills to support growth and opportunity for all.

Published by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 26 February 2025, it aims to tackle the challenge of digital exclusion that can prevent some people from accessing vital services such as speaking with a GP.

Key points from the report include addressing the digital skills gap through equipping people with the skills needed for today’s digital economy; improving basic digital literacy, as well as more advanced skills; linking digital skills to increased productivity and innovation; and ensuring that everyone can participate in the digital economy, regardless of background.

It also outlines collaborations with businesses, education providers and other organisations to deliver training and resources. These include industry pledges from Google, Virgin Media O2, Vodafone, CityFibre, BT, Three, and Sky.

 Upcoming events

22 March, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Festival – How AI could help us treat insomnia