It’s time for another HTN news in brief – let’s take a look at some of the health tech stories to have caught our eye recently.
Research explores combination of MRI with machine learning for diagnosis of children’s brain tumours
A study conducted by researchers from the University of Birmingham and Newcastle University, with Birmingham Children’s Hospital as the lead clinical centre, has suggested that the use of machine learning combined with MRI scanning has the potential to “rapidly reduce the current three – four week wait from presentation to full diagnosis”.
Findings are said to have validated previous research finding glutamate to be closely linked with tumour prognosis, with the research team suggesting that the use of machine learning to assess medulloblastomas for their signature metabolic profiles without requiring an invasive biopsy could potentially help in reducing diagnostic waiting times.
Dr Laura Danielson, children’s and young people’s research lead at Cancer Research UK said that the study “has identified a new way to distinguish between the four subgroups of medulloblastoma. This discovery paves the way for the development of simple imaging tests that could quickly and accurately diagnose the different types of medulloblastoma.”
Living Lab in East Sussex promotes innovation to boost elderly wellbeing
A new ‘Living Lab’ has been established in East Sussex as a one-year pilot to explore how digital technology can support improved physical and mental wellbeing in elderly adults.
The lab, launched at a sheltered housing facility following the installation of an “interactive digital games table” offering residents the opportunity to engage in a range of physical and cognitive activities, is designed to integrate new research and innovative processes into real life communities and settings, and includes VR headsets featuring virtual experiences.
Outcomes from the pilot will be evaluated over the next 12 months by researchers from the University of Brighton, with results expected to help shape the local council’s approach to future adult social care services.
Online Mental Health Careers and Skills Framework launched in South East London
Following two years of engagement with mental health services, the voluntary sector, NHS staff and service users, a new Mental Health Careers and Skills Framework has been launched in South East London to support effective workforce planning and recruitment.
With aims to develop the skills and capacity of the existing ICS workforce and to promote community mental health careers, the free online resource features a range of information and materials, intended to “reduce confusion and inconsistency across different roles in community mental health”, and to “provide greater clarity” on skills and qualifications needed to support workforce planning and “better integrated team working”.
Felicity Reed, people programme clinical and professional lead for innovation at South East London ICS, said: “To clearly describe the skills that are important to providing the help people need from community mental health services, we have worked collaboratively with individuals and organisations who truly understand the realities of working in this area to co-produce the Mental Health Careers and Skills Framework.”
SystmOne companion app extended to further 6 wards in Central and North West London
In Central and North West London, a SystmOne companion app has been extended to a further six wards at the St Charles Hospital, enabling staff to record patient information and observations, and to generate NEWS2 scores from a tablet device.
The Brigid app is now live in more than a quarter of wards in the region, with the aim of continuing its roll-out over the course of the year. To date, it has reportedly been found to save an average of 13 hours of clinical time per week for each ward, “reducing staff time spent at a computer in favour of more time with patients”.
The ICB shared that Brigid has also helped with the standardisation of documentation and with clinical audits, with staff members noting how useful it will be for overall time management.
Feedback invited on new Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust website
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust has announced plans to launch a new website, with public engagement sessions to be held for staff, patients and members of the public to offer their thoughts on features and functions, the new website’s design, and how they find information they need.
The decision to launch a new site is based on “advances in web technology and best practice”, and the trust hopes to use the process as a way of reaching out to and serving people in the community “more effectively”.
