Public health
TV doctor and fertility expert Lord Robert Winston has resigned from the British Medical Association after more than 60 years, citing concerns over planned strike action by resident doctors. The 84-year-old professor, known for his documentaries on child development, told The Times the walkout was “highly dangerous” and could damage public trust in the profession. [...]
The NHS’s rollout of a revolutionary liquid biopsy test for lung and breast cancer is making headlines—and for good reason. By detecting tumour DNA through a simple blood draw, patients are now receiving targeted treatment up to two weeks earlier. It’s a breakthrough that marks a wider shift in cancer care: from one-size-fits-all treatments to [...]
Children living with multiple long-term health issues experience severe emotional distress alongside physical challenges, according to a study that used AI to analyse their social media activity. Researchers examined nearly 400 posts from paediatric patients and their caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic, using artificial intelligence language models to assess emotional and psychological wellbeing. Led by [...]
People with persistent heartburn or acid reflux will be offered an innovative ‘sponge on a string’ test in high-street pharmacies for the first time, as part of a new NHS pilot to help prevent oesophageal cancer. NHS England has today announced that dozens of pharmacies in England will offer new ‘heartburn health checks’ to test for Barrett’s oesophagus, [...]
Google has launched two AI initiatives aimed at improving mental health treatment and expanding access to care for people around the world. The company is releasing a practical field guide for mental health organisations and investing in multi-year research into AI-based approaches to treating anxiety, depression and psychosis. These efforts are intended to address the [...]
A technology-driven overhaul of the NHS could add £40bn a year to the UK economy and increase healthy life expectancy for millions, a new report suggests. The study outlines how using artificial intelligence for earlier disease diagnosis and preventative care could deliver major economic benefits alongside improved health outcomes. By targeting health inequalities through predictive, [...]
The doors have officially opened to a new radiotherapy centre in Milton Keynes, sparing hundreds of cancer patients each year from a lengthy 70-mile round trip to Oxford for vital treatment. OUH Radiotherapy @ Milton Keynes is run by an expert multidisciplinary team from Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) and is linked to [...]
The NHS is set for a digital overhaul, with a greatly expanded app and new hospital league tables forming the centrepiece of the government’s 10-year health plan. The updated NHS app will allow patients to self-refer, book appointments, receive AI-powered advice and access their medical records. Ministers expect the changes to reduce the need for [...]
Digital photography and AI analysis have cut skin cancer diagnosis waiting times from weeks to days in Nottinghamshire. Patients with suspected skin cancer are now typically seen by clinical photographers within a couple of days of GP referral, with images sent to consultant dermatologists for remote assessment. The service uses artificial intelligence software on smartphones [...]
The long-awaited NHS 10 Year Health Plan, unveiled today by Sir Keir Starmer, has set out a bold vision for reshaping health and care in England with community and the NHS App at its core to deliver for patients. But its success, many argue, hinges on how effectively digital technology can be harnessed, and if [...]
