Healthcare and NHS IT
IT is becoming increasingly critical for healthcare delivery. Vital initiatives such as electronic medical records, patient administration systems and telehealth are receiving growing investment in the NHS and elsewhere. Key technologies such as mobile, tablets and cloud are also essential for improving the healthcare industry with digital healthcare technology. Read the latest news about NHS IT and find resources on the broader world of healthcare IT with the news, case studies and advice in this topic section.
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News
16 May 2023
CW Innovation Awards: Zuellig Pharma dispenses healthcare insights with data platform
The regional pharmaceutical giant’s business intelligence-as-a-service offering is touted to plug data gaps and has helped one pharmaceutical client improve customer loyalty Continue Reading
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News
25 Apr 2023
How non-fungible tokens can be used to manage health data
Non-fungible tokens will give patients more ownership and control over their health data and improve its transparency in healthcare research, according to SingHealth clinicians Continue Reading
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News
26 Aug 2021
How 3D printing is growing one step at a time
We speak to a 3D printing firm that has expanded the reach of the technology by providing hardware and design software for customised insoles Continue Reading
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News
26 Aug 2021
NHS Scotland sets out recovery plan
Plan includes ensuring digital choices are always available, scaling up online consultation app and accelerating technology adoption in the NHS Continue Reading
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News
26 Aug 2021
NZ privacy lead John Edwards named new information commissioner
DCMS has named John Edwards, currently New Zealand privacy commissioner, to succeed Elizabeth Denham as UK information commissioner Continue Reading
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News
25 Aug 2021
UK loses £1.3bn to fraud and cyber crime so far this year
New figures from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau show a threefold spike in reported financial losses to fraud and cyber crime in the first six months of 2021 Continue Reading
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News
24 Aug 2021
Half of MS Exchange servers at risk in ProxyShell debacle
Up to 50% of MS Exchange users in the UK are exposed to three vulnerabilities that are now being actively exploited Continue Reading
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News
24 Aug 2021
Over a million opt out of NHS data-sharing
Failure to communicate benefits of data-sharing proposals and privacy concerns are prompting large numbers of people to opt out of a proposed NHS Digital scheme Continue Reading
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News
23 Aug 2021
It’s time to reshape NHS innovation approach, says science and technology council
Council for Science and Technology sets out how the government should harness tech for the NHS through interoperable systems, building skills and capacity and developing an evidence base to underpin effective use of tech Continue Reading
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News
20 Aug 2021
Swedish IT industry braced for China’s response to Huawei 5G ban
Swedish IT and communications equipment suppliers fear economic backlash from China following Huawei ban Continue Reading
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Opinion
18 Aug 2021
Security Think Tank: Data privacy and ethics in a post-Covid world
The radical change caused by the pandemic requires new approaches to data privacy practice, says PA Consulting’s Daniel Gordon Continue Reading
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News
13 Aug 2021
Hospitals see cyber security investment as a low priority
Almost half of hospitals have experienced an IT shutdown as a result of a cyber attack in the past six months, but just over one in 10 hospital executives see cyber security investment as a high priority Continue Reading
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News
12 Aug 2021
Social care digital revolution could lead to £127m in benefits
Analysis of NHS Digital’s social care programme shows new ways of working could reduce hospital admissions and visits to GPs, and improve people’s quality of life Continue Reading
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E-Zine
12 Aug 2021
CW Benelux: Netherlands sees increase in the number of women opting for an ICT career
The IT skills gap in the Netherlands could be about to narrow as more women take up jobs in the sector. Figures from last year revealed that the number of female ICT professionals grew by 6.5%, while the number of male ICT professionals increased by only 1.7%. Read more about it in this issue. Also find out why more openness about ransomware attacks in the Dutch business community could be the first step to defeating a growing problem. Continue Reading
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News
12 Aug 2021
Singapore’s NUHS kicks off holomedicine research
Singapore neurosurgeons are testing the use of Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 mixed reality headset to locate brain tumours with higher precision and improve patient safety Continue Reading
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News
10 Aug 2021
Dutch lead the way in protecting themselves against internet risks
Dutch citizens come top in a study on awareness of internet risks in Europe, which showed major differences across the continent Continue Reading
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News
09 Aug 2021
Healthcare providers to deliver 765 million teleconsultations globally by 2025
Research reveals patients will use remote consultation services 3.6 times per year on average, but need for mobile devices and connectivity will limit uptake of telehealth services to developed regions Continue Reading
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News
05 Aug 2021
Nine security flaws found in critical hospital infrastructure
The ‘PwnedPiper’ vulnerabilities identified in systems used by 80% of US hospitals could be used to launch ransomware attacks Continue Reading
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News
04 Aug 2021
Fred IT replaces paper prescriptions with QR codes
Fred IT’s eRX Script Exchange is now used by 21,000 doctors and 95% of Australian pharmacies, delivering more than 11 million digital prescriptions by July 2021 Continue Reading
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News
03 Aug 2021
Panasas’s 10x saving bumps NetApp from HPC storage deployment
University of Wollongong got 1.2PB for the cost of 100TB for HPC storage in its cryo-imaging institute. Scale-out NAS maker Panasas also brought life sciences expertise to bear Continue Reading
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News
03 Aug 2021
Government updates isolation criteria in Covid-19 app
NHS Covid-19 app adjusted to reduce the number of people receiving self-isolation alerts Continue Reading
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News
29 Jul 2021
HMRC hits Home Office with £33.5m bill over ‘careless’ application of IR35 rules
The Home Office is the latest ministerial department to be hit with a multimillion-pound tax demand from HMRC after errors were discovered in its implementation of the IR35 rules Continue Reading
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News
28 Jul 2021
Almost half unaware of GP data-sharing plans
Around half of adults in England – approximately 20 million people – remain unaware of the scope of the NHS GPDPR programme, prompting calls for a public education campaign Continue Reading
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News
28 Jul 2021
COP26 cyber resource hub launched for Glasgow businesses
New digital information hub for Glasgow business to help organisations keep secure both physically and online ahead of major climate change summit Continue Reading
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Opinion
28 Jul 2021
Security Think Tank: Consider cyber policies and procedures as you welcome employees back
With Covid-19 restrictions easing, offices are welcoming back remote workers this summer, bringing with them their notebooks and mobiles, and creating an endpoint management headache for CISOs. What do security teams need to account for to protect their returning office workers? Continue Reading
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News
27 Jul 2021
Solent NHS Trust takes self-service route for sexual health
NHS trust deploys an integrated sexual health self-service system, digitally triaging patients and aiming to drive proactive intervention Continue Reading
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News
26 Jul 2021
Legacy IT issues impacted government decision-making during Covid-19, says PAC
The government’s ability to make well-informed decisions during the pandemic has been ‘hampered’ by data and legacy IT issues, Public Accounts Committee report finds Continue Reading
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News
22 Jul 2021
IR35: Government sets out plan to rid contractor market of non-compliant umbrellas and loan schemes
In the wake of a consultation earlier this year, the government has drawn up a package of measures it intends to take to help protect contractors from non-compliant umbrella companies and loan scheme promoters Continue Reading
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News
22 Jul 2021
Interview: Sarah Wilkinson, former CEO, NHS Digital
In her exit interview with Computer Weekly, NHS Digital’s former CEO Sarah Wilkinson talks about the organisation’s transformation over the past few years, the Covid-19 pandemic, bureaucracy challenges and big wins Continue Reading
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News
20 Jul 2021
NHS Digital tightens rules for GPDPR data scrape
The proposed collection of patient data held by GPs will now only commence when three key criteria have been fulfilled, says NHS Digital Continue Reading
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News
19 Jul 2021
HMRC CEO claims email querying legal basis for loan charge ‘overplayed’ at committee hearing
HMRC CEO Jim Harra continues to downplay significance of email questioning legal basis of the loan charge during a grilling by the Economic Affairs Committee Continue Reading
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News
19 Jul 2021
Chelsea and Westminster NHS launches acute Covid app
The app aims to work as a one-stop Covid-19 information and resource shop for doctors and nurses working with coronavirus patients Continue Reading
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News
14 Jul 2021
More than half of European IT outsourcing spending will soon be on cloud services
Cloud services will soon be the largest part of the IT services market in Europe, as enterprises invest in them as part of their Covid-19 recovery strategies Continue Reading
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News
14 Jul 2021
Multiple Microsoft bugs being actively exploited
Microsoft’s July Patch Tuesday update fixes 117 vulnerabilities, 13 rated as critical and four already being actively exploited Continue Reading
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News
14 Jul 2021
London announces winners of Covid-19 recovery innovation challenge
The Mayor’s Resilience Fund called for ideas to support businesses and communities emerge from the pandemic, and there are some standout winners Continue Reading
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News
13 Jul 2021
Russia tightens pressure on global IT companies
Russian authorities will force certain IT companies with customers in Russia to open local offices Continue Reading
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E-Zine
13 Jul 2021
Driving intelligence – behind the scenes of Volkswagen’s in-car software
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we go behind the scenes of Volkswagen’s in-car software R&D centre. The UK’s largest supercomputer has gone live in Cambridge – we find out how it will transform healthcare research. And we talk to DWP’s digital chief about the restructuring of its IT capabilities. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
12 Jul 2021
Loan charge MPs call for prime ministerial intervention to prevent mass contractor bankruptcies
In an open letter signed by 76 MPs, the prime minister and the chancellor are facing calls to intervene urgently on how the loan charge policy is being enforced Continue Reading
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News
12 Jul 2021
NHS to get new online jobs platform
NHS Business Services Authority is working to transform the NHS Jobs platform, currently in beta stage, with plans to launch it early next year Continue Reading
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News
08 Jul 2021
CIO interview: Ian Cohen, CPIO, Acacium Group
Acacium’s chief product and information officer joined the healthcare specialist in the midst of the pandemic, and is responsible for data, product, business process and automation Continue Reading
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Opinion
08 Jul 2021
Security Think Tank: Reopening is an opportunity to reassess wider security posture
With Covid-19 restrictions easing, offices are welcoming back remote workers this summer, bringing with them their notebooks and mobiles, and creating an endpoint management headache for CISOs. What do security teams need to account for to protect their returning office workers? Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2021
Opportunists seen targeting Kaseya REvil victims
Malwarebytes researchers highlight new spam campaign targeting businesses impacted by the ongoing Kaseya REvil ransomware incident Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2021
The Cambridge-1 switch-on: UK’s most powerful supercomputer goes live
The UK's most powerful supercomputer has gone live, with Nvidia talking up its potential to transform artificial intelligence-based healthcare research around the world Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2021
Cyber insurance costs up by a third
The frequency and severity of ransomware attacks is a leading factor behind a substantial increase in the cost of obtaining cyber security insurance Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2021
Gulf hospitals flock to digital health to manage lifestyle diseases
The Middle East is accelerating its take-up of digital healthcare technologies following lessons learned in the Covid-19 pandemic Continue Reading
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News
05 Jul 2021
Government genomically sequences 600,000 Covid-19 samples
More than 600,000 positive Covid-19 tests have been genomically sequenced by the government to identify genes that make people more susceptible to severe symptoms, and to monitor different variants of the virus Continue Reading
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News
02 Jul 2021
Should I be worried about PrintNightmare?
The accidental publication of proof of concept code for a Windows vulnerability, and the reclassification of said bug from low to critical severity, has the cyber community concerned. Is it right to be? Continue Reading
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News
01 Jul 2021
US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency launches ransomware assessment tool
Newly launched service will help US organisations understand how prepared they are to deal with a ransomware attack Continue Reading
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News
01 Jul 2021
NHS IT fraudster Barry Stannard sentenced to five years in prison
Stannard used his position as head of unified communications at an Essex NHS Trust to cheat the taxpayer of more than £800,000 Continue Reading
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News
30 Jun 2021
Post-pandemic recovery drives NHS digitisation
NHS staff see a role for remote healthcare to enable the health service to keep up with increased demands, according to iGov survey Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2021
UK Cyber Security Council launches inaugural initiatives
Security association seeks to determine terms of reference for committees to oversee standards and ethics, and qualifications and careers in the cyber sector Continue Reading
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E-Zine
29 Jun 2021
Is the UK government planning to rewrite GDPR?
In this week’s Computer Weekly, a government taskforce on post-Brexit regulations has recommended changes to GDPR in the UK – we examine the implications. The NHS has launched a new data strategy - we look at what it means for your medical records. And we ask how to avoid the performance problems that affect private cloud. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2021
Insurers unprepared for challenges of underwriting ransomware
RUSI think tank calls for an industry-wide reset amid intense challenges for providers of cyber security insurance Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2021
IR35 reforms: HMRC questioned about CEST as tax status of 210,000 contractors left 'undetermined'
Data published by HMRC confirms that the tax authority’s IR35 status checker tool has failed to determined how contractors should be taxed in hundreds of thousands of cases since November 2019 Continue Reading
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News
25 Jun 2021
NCSC CEO: UK-Ireland collaboration crucial to stop cyber threats
Speaking at a conference in Dublin, NCSC Lindy Cameron is highlighting the importance of continued collaboration between the UK and Ireland to protect shared interests and counter security threats Continue Reading
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Blog Post
25 Jun 2021
The dangers of binary arguments in a complex and relative digital world
In his 1983 book, Modern times: a history of the world from the 1920s to the year 2000, historian Paul Johnson claims the modern world started on 29 May 1919, when astronomers studying a solar ... Continue Reading
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News
24 Jun 2021
Make ransomware payments illegal, say 79% of cyber pros
Report produced for MSSP Talion claims overwhelming support for the criminalisation of ransomware payments Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2021
NHSX policy document focuses on patients and data sharing
Patient privacy and data and code reuse are three of the pillars outlined in the NHSX’s new data strategy for sharing patient data Continue Reading
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E-Zine
22 Jun 2021
A new three-year plan for digital government
In this week’s Computer Weekly, the new CEO of the Gov-ernment Digital Service, Tom Read, explains his three-year strategy for improving online public services. EU attempts to regulate AI are under fire – we examine the issues. And we find out how Bupa is turning to the cloud to deliver per-sonalised healthcare. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
21 Jun 2021
NHSX set to unveil post-Covid data strategy
The smart use of patient data could power new AI-based healthcare systems and speed up the discovery of new treatments Continue Reading
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News
18 Jun 2021
NHS App reaches six million users, thanks to Covid vaccine feature
More than two million new users have downloaded the NHS App since it was updated in May to include Covid-19 vaccination status Continue Reading
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News
17 Jun 2021
Technology takes centre stage in UK government reform
The government’s tech recovery programme includes a pledge to shift towards data interoperability and phasing out legacy systems Continue Reading
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News
17 Jun 2021
GDS to improve Gov.uk with user monitoring
Gov.uk’s measurement approach is expected to enhance the experience of 335 million users of the government’s online platform Continue Reading
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News
16 Jun 2021
Matt Hancock at CogX: ‘Huge opportunities’ ahead to exploit health data
Health secretary tells CogX 2021 conference in London that huge opportunities lie ahead in the application of analytics to pseudonymised patient data Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2021
NHS Test and Trace picks Risk Ledger to secure supply chain
Risk Ledger’s technology promises ‘unparalleled’ visibility into NHS Test and Trace’s supply chain Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2021
How healthcare organisations are tapping data analytics
Healthcare providers are harnessing data analytics to improve clinical and operational outcomes even as they continue to face challenges in data aggregation and data protection Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2021
UK promises tougher line on cyber crime
Speaking ahead of the G7 Summit, foreign secretary Dominic Raab says the UK is ready to take on cyber criminals and other malicious actors wherever they may be Continue Reading
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News
10 Jun 2021
Risk data shows UK energy sector most vulnerable to cyber attack
New report compiled by insurance firm Hiscox reveals the state of cyber preparedness in the UK and beyond Continue Reading
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News
08 Jun 2021
NHS Digital delays data collection plans until September
NHS Digital has postponed its proposed collection of GP data for two months, to allow more time for the public to understand the process and opt out if wanted Continue Reading
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News
08 Jun 2021
National data guardian calls for dialogue on NHS Digital GP plans
The UK’s national data guardian says it is important the public has clarity on how their confidential medical information will be used and kept secure under NHS data-sharing plans Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2021
Campaigners plan legal action over NHS data sharing
Privacy coalition aims to force NHS Digital to push back its plans to scrape medical information on millions of patients into a central database Continue Reading
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Opinion
07 Jun 2021
NHS Digital’s GP data-scraping plan must be publicised and delayed
The UK government must launch a national awareness campaign and delay this month’s planned GP data slurp, say privacy consultants Ben Rapp and Sara Newman Continue Reading
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News
04 Jun 2021
BCS: Lack of communication over NHS GPDPR ‘astonishing’
The Chartered Institute for IT has warned that millions of people are not being properly informed of NHS Digital plans to harvest their data Continue Reading
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News
03 Jun 2021
Swedish university is behind quantum computing breakthrough
Chalmers University of Technology simplifies the process of measuring the temperatures of quantum computers during complex calculations Continue Reading
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Opinion
01 Jun 2021
Long-term thinking is vital to secure UK’s critical infrastructure
To face down the threat of cyber warfare against UK CNI, the government needs long-term thinking that looks beyond the next general election cycle, says Advent-IM’s Mike Gillespie Continue Reading
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News
01 Jun 2021
Ex-IT manager stole over £800,000 from NHS trust
A former senior IT manager at an Essex NHS trust has pleaded guilty to defrauding his employer out of more than £800,000 Continue Reading
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News
01 Jun 2021
NHS trust’s Pioneer data platform joins up care delivery and improves outcomes
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust aims to improve patient care by bringing together anonymised health data from different care settings to better understand the patient journey Continue Reading
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News
28 May 2021
Privacy experts concerned over NHS data collection plans
Security and data privacy experts warn NHS Digital that its data collection plans could increase risk and cause a public backlash Continue Reading
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News
27 May 2021
How supply chain digitisation is paving the way to gene therapy
Big pharma has been on the frontline to vaccinate the world against Covid-19. Digitising supply chains sets them up to personalise patient care Continue Reading
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News
26 May 2021
Department for Education’s e-learning unpreparedness widens inequality among students
Department is ‘surprisingly resistant’ to a lessons-learned exercise based on findings during Covid, says Public Accounts Committee report Continue Reading
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News
26 May 2021
Google offers free tech skills training to UK jobseekers
Online training in areas such as IT support and UX design will be available through the Department for Work and Pensions Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2021
IR35: MPs denied vote to amend Finance Bill to ‘curb or kill’ umbrella companies
MPs were denied the opportunity to vote in favour of amending the incoming Finance Bill to ‘curb or kill’ umbrella companies, prompting industry watchers to double down on calls for regulation Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2021
UK startups lack gender diversity in senior technical roles
Women account for about 2-3% of engineering and technology directors in startups and scaleups, says report Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2021
IR35: MPs urged to back ‘curb or kill’ umbrella company-focused Finance Bill amendments
Two amendments to the incoming Finance Bill that have the potential to ban the use of umbrella companies are being voted on by MPs in the House of Commons today Continue Reading
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News
23 May 2021
Innovation and skills at the heart of CBI report
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) wants an inclusive and innovative economy, with increased research and development (R&D) investment and better digital intensity and adoption, particularly among SMEs Continue Reading
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News
21 May 2021
NHS Education for Scotland defends 'decade-long' public cloud deal with AWS
The training arm of NHS Scotland has come under fire from members of the public sector IT supplier community over its decision to award a 10-year cloud contract to AWS Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2021
Government sets out implementation plan for genomics strategy
The 2021-22 implementation plan for government’s 10-year Genome UK strategy includes improving diversity of genomics data, rolling out whole genome sequencing to rare diseases patients, and delivering a proof of concept for a next-generation approach to cancer treatment Continue Reading
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News
19 May 2021
Reports of stolen Irish health service data being leaked online
Leaking of deeply confidential and personal information on patient healthcare marks a new low for the criminal Conti gang Continue Reading
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News
18 May 2021
Legacy data and IT issues ‘laid bare’ during Covid-19, says NAO
The pandemic has exposed challenges with legacy data and IT systems in government, and has made the government response more challenging, says the National Audit Office Continue Reading
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News
18 May 2021
NHS to issue 30,000 iPads to ambulance crews
Mobile devices will allow crews to send photographs to hospital specialists and access health records while at the scene of incidents, aiming to speed up and improve care Continue Reading
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News
18 May 2021
Australian budget lends support to digital economy
Australia’s A$1.2bn Digital Economy Strategy ticks most of the right boxes, but some industry experts say areas such as broadband infrastructure and artificial intelligence are still underfunded Continue Reading
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News
17 May 2021
Half of UK workforce lacks essential digital skills for work
A ‘hidden middle’ of more than 17 million people do not have the abilities needed to participate and contribute to the digital world in life and at work, study says Continue Reading
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News
17 May 2021
Conti ransomware syndicate behind attack on Irish health service
More details continue to emerge of the significant ransomware attack on Ireland’s HSE Continue Reading
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Opinion
17 May 2021
Why new EU rules around artificial intelligence are vital to the development of the sector
Shawn Tan, CEO of global AI ecosystem builder Skymind, explains why the European Union’s new rules on artificial intelligence are a good thing Continue Reading
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Opinion
17 May 2021
Transparency is essential as we enter the era of ‘government by algorithm’
The public sector is increasingly allowing algorithms to make vital decisions that affect people’s lives – but how do we know those algorithms work or what they do? Continue Reading
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News
14 May 2021
Irish health service hit by major ransomware attack
IT systems in hospitals across Ireland have been switched off following a significant ransomware attack Continue Reading
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News
13 May 2021
NHSX data strategy due in ‘a few weeks’
NHSX director of policy and strategy Simon Madden says the long-awaited strategy is expected to “trigger huge debates” on issues such as access, choice and transparency, and will be published in draft form shortly to allow for consultation Continue Reading
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News
13 May 2021
Biden beefs up public-private security cooperation
Joe Biden has signed a new Executive Order to harden US cyber security and government networks, with an emphasis on information sharing Continue Reading
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News
13 May 2021
Refuge launches tech safety site for domestic abuse victims
Created with the help of survivors, Refuge’s resource site offers guidance on protecting yourself from tech-enabled domestic abuse Continue Reading
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News
12 May 2021
NHS Digital replaces system for collection of GP data
New system designed ‘with interests of patients at its heart’ will provide near-real-time primary care data to support improvements in healthcare and help research Continue Reading
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News
12 May 2021
The Security Interviews: Why helpful bots could hurt vaccine roll-outs
Earlier this year, spikes in traffic to websites containing information about Covid-19 vaccines were attributed by Imperva to automated bots scraping data. Why is that a problem? Continue Reading
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News
12 May 2021
Queen’s Speech approaches key themes for UK tech
From online safety to skills for the future, the speech contained several points that are relevant to the industry for the year Continue Reading