FUNDING BOOST FOR AI-BASED EPILEPSY MONITORING

University spinout company Neuronostics has received funding to develop an AI-based system for more accurate diagnosis of epilepsy and to monitor response to treatment of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs).

The platform is called BioEp and works by creating mathematical models of the brain using segments of electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings.

The computer simulations reveal which seizures can emerge and form the basis of the BioEP seizure risk score.

The platform is developed in partnership with the University of Birmingham where co-founder of the company, Professor John Terry is director of centre for systems Modelling & Quantitative Biomedicine, researching the diagnosis and treatment for people with epilepsy.

NHSX BUYERS GUIDE TO AI IN HEALTH AND CARE

NHSX has published A Buyer’s Guide to AI and Health and Care guide, which lists ten questions for making well-informed procurement decisions about products that use AI.

The ten questions are categorised under; problem identification, product assessment, implementation considerations and procurement and delivery.

The guide states that the products that it applies to are ‘off-the-shelf’ AI applications – i.e. products packaged by vendors ready for deployment as opposed to bespoke projects, such as research or build collaborations between health and care organisations and developers.

For more guidance, buyers can contact the AI Lab at ailab@nhsx.nhs.uk where they’ll be able to signpost to further support.

MAYOR OF LONDON SPEAKS ON CONTACT TRACING APP 

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has said that he is frustrated over the lack of information about the contact tracing app.

Khan has called on the government to publish data on the effectiveness of its new contact tracing app, which is being trialled in Newham.

Khan added that without this information, there was a risk that the app would not gain public trust.

Speaking at the opening of a new testing facility in the borough, and one of the areas of the country which was worst hit by COVID-19 in March and April, Khan urged residents to download the app.

The UK government began the trial of its second contact tracing app last week in the borough, using technology supplied by Google and Apple.

In a major U-turn earlier this year, the UK switched from its existing centralised contact tracing app to the technology provided by the two tech giants. 

BIMA SECURES $30M TO DRIVE DIGITAL HEALTH INSURTECH SOLUTIONS

UK-based provider of digital health and insurtech services in emerging markets, BIMA, has secured $30 million in further investment for digital health services.

Chinese fintech investor CreditEase Fintech Investment Fund (CEFIF) has invested in BIMA for the first time, while existing shareholders LeapFrog Investments and Allianz have both increased their investment.

The investment will allow the company to expand its product offering, and scale its capabilities as demand increases. It will also allow BIMA to expand its footprint in Asia and Africa. 

COVID-19 is the catalyst behind the surge, with consumers seeking increased access to telemedicine and insurance cover.

MEDICAL SOLUTIONS TO PROVIDE VIRTUAL GP SERVICE

Medical Solutions has partnered with Cirencester Friendly to launch ‘GP24’, a 24/7 virtual GP service for the society’s income protection members.

GP24 is available to Cirencester Friendly members and will provide them with 24/7 access to a GP by phone for diagnosis and support, as well as private prescriptions and referral letters via an app.

Paul Nattrass, commercial director at Medical Solutions, said: “Accessing primary care has been challenging for many people over the past few months and it’s likely this will remain the case for the foreseeable future.

“We are therefore delighted to partner with Cirencester Friendly to provide our 24/7 GP service and give its members the reassurance that they can access expert medical advice and support at anytime, anywhere.”

NHS AI LAB RESEARCH TO SPEED UP CANCER AND HEART CARE

New National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funding will accelerate the testing of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the NHS.

The AI tools and products are the first projects funded by the AI in Health and Care Award. The award is managed by the Accelerated Access Collaborative in partnership with NHSX and NIHR.

They will receive a share of funding totalling over £50 million which will form part of the NHS Artificial Intelligence Lab.

A range of AI-powered innovations which can analyse breast cancer screening scans and assess emergency stroke patients will be tested and scaled, helping clinicians deliver the right treatment. 

NORFOLK HOSPITAL STAFF ADOPT TECHNOLOGY FOR VIRTUAL TRAINING

Rheumatology staff at Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals in the UK are adopting new technology to improve their service to patients who are starting a course of biologic drugs.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team had to reconsider how they could limit the amount of patient contact, while still offering training sessions for patients.

Over the last six months, academic clinical fellow in Rheumatology and VR lead for the NNUH, Dr Jordan Tsigarides has been collaborating with a digital health company called Cognitant, who produces digital programmes for patient education that can be viewed in virtual reality or on a smartphone. 

Together they have produced a programme specifically on biologics and rheumatoid arthritis, also collaborating with clinicians at Addenbrooke’s to achieve this.

The educational segment of the first appointment will now be delivered using this virtual reality technology from Cognitant.

DIGITAL CANCER CARE PROGRAMME COULD SAVE HEALTH INSURERS £11K PER PATIENT

Onko has revealed that health insurers that adopt their app-based clinical service could save £11,000 for every patient undergoing major cancer surgery.

Onko provides health improvement programmes to people preparing for, undergoing, and recovering from cancer treatment. 

In a trial carried out with patients, those using Onko’s service saw a significant reduction in post-op complications and a three-day reduction in post-op hospital stays required.

Onko is currently running a trial with the NHS. Venetia Wynter-Blyth, cancer nurse and co-founder of Onko explains: “Those patients in the NHS study had better tolerance to chemotherapy, and a significant reduction in post-operative complications.”

“Despite receiving cancer treatment, patients on the programme saw, on average, a 15% improvement in treatment tolerance, 44% improvement in complications and a 53% improvement in quality of life.”

NORTH TEES AND HARTLEPOOL NHS FT DEPLOYS AI LOCATION TECH

UK-based healthcare scale-up, Navenio has announced that the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS FT will be using its location-based AI platform.

This system will be used to support portering teams, transform how the service is delivered and provide meaningful data.

The programme will be delivered by NTH Solutions, the provider of estates and facilities services to North Tees and Hartlepool NHS FT.

The newly available data from the Navenio solution will be fed into a performance monitoring system which will allow for more accurate KPIs to be drawn together. NTH Solutions is hoping to be able to demonstrate value in order to offer new services to clients in the local community.