The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has announced plans to launch a regulatory AI sandbox with the aim to explore how artificial intelligence can support medicines development and safety. The sandbox, funded by the Regulatory Innovation Office, will enable AI tools to be tested that have the potential to […]
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Study highlights potential for digitally-enabled support for people with MSK conditions
A study into the impact of a digital exercise programme designed to support adults managing MSK problems has found that it provides similar outcomes to face-to-face physiotherapy. The platform, Good Boost, provides digital personalised therapeutic exercises to support those living with long-term conditions. Data from 40,000 exercise sessions highlighted that […]
Three projects awarded €3,788,000 in EU initiative to “make health data usable”
The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency has announced three winners following an open call for innovative projects looking to make health data “usable, interoperable, and clinically meaningful across fragmented systems”. The Regional Innovation Valley project UNITE is funded by the EU to further European digital health innovation and […]
Government announces £20 million investment into digital referrals from high street optometrists to secondary care
The Department of Health and Social Care has announced a £20 million investment to roll out e-referrals to all optical practices with NHS contracts in England, to support direct referrals to secondary services including NHS Online when it launches in 2027. DHSC has shared hopes that this will allow “millions” […]
National roll out of Microsoft Copilot announced for 500,000 NHS staff
NHS England has announced the roll out of Microsoft 365 Copilot to 505,000 NHS clinical and support staff, with ambitions of freeing up an average of two days per month from administrative tasks by using AI to help draft documents and analyse data “more effectively”. The roll out follows a […]
Health Tech Awards 2026 deadline to enter is 15 June!
The Health Tech Awards are back for another year to share and celebrate success across health and care! The deadline to enter the awards programme is fixed, 11:59pm, 15 June 2026! Over 150 NHS leaders from a variety of care settings and backgrounds carefully and meticulously judge the awards, selecting […]
National AI strategy for Canada announces billions in investment across sovereign compute, health data, standardisation, sustainability
The Government of Canada has published its national AI strategy: “AI for All”, promising free AI literacy training for all citizens, up to 250,000 new jobs by 2031, an AI Missions Programme with $200 million for projects improving health outcomes, and $700 million for access to public compute for SMEs […]
NHSE board places cyber at higher risk and notes potential AI innovation freeze
The board of NHS England has ranked a cyber incident higher on its organisational risk registers than a pandemic, following an assessment of mitigations and preparedness already in place, likelihood, and impact. Explaining the findings from the latest Emergency Preparedness, Resilience, and Response Annual Assurance Report, NHSE stated: “EPRR assessments […]
Virtual ward pilot for older adults with mental health needs demonstrates “positive early results” in Sussex
“Positive early results” are reportedly being seen from a virtual ward pilot for older adults with complex mental health needs in Sussex, with services being delivered via a combination of remote and community-based care. The pilot is part of a wider transformation programme across the region, offering support to older […]
Black Country Healthcare awards contract for digital mental health support for children and young people
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHFT) has noted its intention to award a contract with a value of £30,000 to WYSA LTD for the provision of a digital service to support children and young people with mental health and wellbeing. Services supplied under the contract will help toward the […]
