Here we cover some of the latest stories in health tech that have caught our eye recently. Let’s take a look at what’s been going on over the past week.
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust responds to cyber security incident
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has responded to several reports of a cyber security incident.
The trust has reassured patients that there is “no evidence their data has been accessed”, stating that the the system that was compromised did not hold any patient passwords or personal data but instead “contained data about staff mobile devices such as the mobile number and the IMEI number”.
Taking to their website to clarify this information, the trust added, “we take the security of our data and systems extremely seriously and we are investigating this matter thoroughly” before making it clear that they “acted immediately to make the system secure” which has reportedly included working with the cyber security team at NHS England.
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICS shares success of MiiCare remote monitoring pilot in supporting independent living
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care System has revealed how the MiiCare remote monitoring kit has helped to support local residents “remain at home for longer, reduce avoidable care home admissions and promote independent living”.
The pilot for the MiiCare equipment began in January 2023, as part of the ICS’ Digitising Social Care programme, with the aim to evaluate patients aged 70-89, who had a high risk of falls, early onset dementia or memory loss.
73 kits were sent out across the region, with a number of benefits having been observed since, including increased opportunities for early intervention through medication reminders and behavioural alerts, as well as greater levels of reassurance for family members. The use of the kits has also meant that patients have been able to stay at home for longer instead of going into residential care.
The MiiCare kit is made up of the MiiCube, which is a centralised AI hub that “connects wirelessly to smart devices and sensors around the home”, helping with the quiet monitoring of “vital signs, sleep patterns, daily routine and movements and overall health and wellbeing”. It carefully analyses the data taken from the patient, sending alerts to caregivers, healthcare providers or family members whenever early indicators of ill-health have been detected.
Digitising social care programme director for Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICS, Clare Steward, commented on the success of the pilot, saying, “the analysis of the pilot found that the most successful element was having a known or trusted professional to actively monitor and support the individual. However, as the case with pilots, there were also factors that meant some of the planned benefits were not fully demonstrated. The pilot is currently in the final closure stage and the BLMK Digitising Social Care team will continue to work with MiiCare to support individuals with live subscriptions.”
Northamptonshire ICB goes live with the eye care electronic referral system
Northamptonshire recently went live with an eye care electronic referral system, a digital platform designed to “improve and accelerate eye care referrals and communications” across the region.
According to the ICB, the service was introduced to 10 opticians on 14 April, allowing optometrists to send digital referrals and images directly to the hospital whenever further investigation is needed. As such, GPs are no longer required to process the referrals themselves, which has helped to simplify the process and led to “empowering experts in eyecare to better manage patient care”.
The referral system has also been integrated into the systems within the hospitals, said to enable “faster, more accurate response to optician’s request”, which includes providing more direct feedback based on the results of the referral.
Kirstie Watson, director of digital for Northamptonshire ICB, noted how, “building digital tools that work across the system supports our aim to enable better care for patients. I am excited that the new electronic eye care referral system delivers new, wider connections to healthcare professionals in Northamptonshire”.
Emory Healthcare introduces Apple tech and Epic integration for Mac
Emory Healthcare has introduced a new suite of Apple products aiming to enhance care delivery and patient experience, with Epic integration on Mac across Emory Hillandale Hospital in Georgia.
Computers across the hospital have been replaced with Macs running Epic, iMacs and Mac minis are available at nursing stations, and clinicians are using MacBook Air laptops. iPads outside patient rooms display key data, and nurses and clinicians are now using iPhones and Apple Watches to receive updates and stay connected.
Edna Brisco, CNO, talked about the improvements that the new technology was offering to workflows for nursing staff, saying: “Mac lets the nurses move through their day more swiftly, while iPad brings important health information to our patients’ fingertips. It’s a game changer for how we provide care.”
Cyber security in healthcare: the wider trend
A recent open letter signed by Mike Fell, director of cyber operations at NHSE; Phil Huggins, national CISO for health and care at the DHSC; and Vin Diwakar, national director of transformation at NHSE; has asked suppliers to sign a charter of cyber security best practice. The charter represents a voluntary commitment to a series of measures covering support, standards, multi-factor authentication, monitoring, and reporting.
NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly’s cyber security strategy to 2026 has been put forward for board endorsement, with a focus on identifying and managing risk; strengthening governance; embedding cyber awareness and culture; critical IT systems and suppliers; and prediction, prevention, detection, response and recovery.
Last month, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology outlined plans for the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, noting measures to enhance oversight, regulating the supply chain and progressing CAF’s basic and enhanced profiles.
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust recently had to issue a response to claims that data published online and shared on social media had been “obtained illegally from systems shared by Alder Hey and Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust”. Their update addressed patient concerns, informing them that the trust was working with its partners to verify the data published, and to “understand the potential impact” that its publication may have had.
