Qure.ai scores £3.2M for AI-aided cancer detection

Artificial intelligence (AI) provider Qure.ai has secured £3.2 million from SBRI Healthcare, in partnership with the NHS cancer programme and NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative.

The funding will be used to demonstrate real-world evidence of AI-aided lung cancer diagnosis, using the firm’s qXR chest X-ray interpretation technology.

Prof David Baldwin, chair, UK clinical expert group for lung cancer, said: “AI solutions such as qXR should improve the pathway logistics by flagging abnormalities on chest x-rays as soon as they are undertaken helping patients to progress rapidly through to computed tomography (CT) scanning.”

Comau partners with IUVO design wearable lumber exoskeleton

Italian robotics firm Comau and wearable tech firm IUVO are developing an exoskeleton to reduce lower back fatigue in manual workers.

The wearable robotic solution will be provided to workers at retail chain Esselunga, to help support back muscles stimulated during lifting and handling.

Testing of prototypes will begin in the first quarter of 2022, with the first exoskeletons available in the second quarter.

Nicola Vitiello, IUVO cofounder, said: “The collaboration with Esselunga is a huge opportunity to further progress the development of wearable robotic technologies for the wellbeing of workers, that are also easily usable in everyday life.”

Okadoc partnership with Mediclinic reduced patient no-shows by more than 15%

Dubai-based healthtech firm Okadoc, has announced the success of a white-labelled version of its patient engagement platform for private healthcare group Mediclinic Middle East.

The MyMediclinic app went live in April 2021 across 28 facilities, allowing people to book doctors consultations, manage appointments, and receive notifications.

Over nine months Mediclinic’s no-show rate for online bookings was consistently lower by 2-3%, representing an overall 15-20% reduction in no-shows.

Hein Van Eck, chief strategy officer, Mediclinic, said: “By launching our new application powered by Okadoc, we’ve been able to simplify the patient experience, increase revenues and reduce administrative costs.”

HCA Healthcare UK opens £26M specialist oncology unit at UCLH

HCA Healthcare UK has announced the opening of a £26 million specialist complex haematology and oncology unit at University College Hospital London (UCLH).

The 43-bed unit provides innovative cancer therapies and will enable access to inpatient clinical trials delivered via HCA UK’s research arm, Sarah Canon Research Institute UK.

Claire Smith, CEO of HCA UK NHS joint ventures said: “Features such as the advanced cellular therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplant units are demonstrative of the acute specialist care that we are uniquely positioned to provide at HCA Healthcare UK.”

Kry announces six million patient appointments across its platforms

Swedish digital healthcare provider Kry, announced it has delivered more than six million patient appointments across its Kry and Livi platforms, marking a 200% increase since 2020.

In 2022 Kry plans to launch new gynaecology, paediatrics, dermatology, endocrinology and gastroenterology services in France.  It will also roll out at-home testing for a range of chronic health-related conditions in Sweden and enhance its business-to-business SaaS technology for healthcare professionals. 

Johannes Schildt, Kry CEO, said: “We’re proud that digital healthcare is now a critical part of healthcare delivery throughout Europe.”

Inhealthcare’s remote health pathway for Scotland ‘improved access to NHS’

A study found Scotland’s remote health pathway for people with COVID-19 symptoms improved access to NHS services and can be safely rolled-out.

The Inhealthcare system, which went live in January 2021, allowed health boards to gather patient information about breathlessness, oxygen saturation, temperature and other symptoms. Readings of concern triggered advice to call NHS services. 

A study by Dr Helen Alexander found the system contributed to increased self-management among patients, improved resource efficiency and reduced health inequalities with more than twice as many people from disadvantaged areas using the system.