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
11 May 2021
Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack has grave consequences
The ramifications of a major ransomware attack against a US fuel pipeline operator could spread far and wide Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2021
Telemedicine to save healthcare industry tens of billions globally by 2025
Research predicts good times ahead for key network-based industry, especially as teleconsultations improve patient care, but warns that deregulation of telemedicine is needed to maximise growth Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2021
NCSC Active Cyber Defence blocks surge of pandemic scams
The NCSC responded to a surge in online scams last year as it moved to protect both the general public and critical national services during the pandemic Continue Reading
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News
07 May 2021
NCSC publishes smart city security guidelines
Guidance for local authorities, IT and cyber professionals aims to ensure the security of connected, smart city projects Continue Reading
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News
06 May 2021
Netherlands to build new national supercomputer
The Netherlands has laid out plans for its next national supercomputer, to be known as Snellius Continue Reading
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News
06 May 2021
Wipro’s AI platform to improve vaccine safety
Wipro is partnering a stem cell technology firm on the use of its Holmes artificial intelligence platform to help researchers ascertain the safety and potency of vaccines Continue Reading
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News
05 May 2021
Interview: ONS data science chief Tom Smith on government data capability
The managing director of the Office of National Statistics’ Data Science Campus, Tom Smith, describes the organisation’s data capability building activities for and across government Continue Reading
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News
04 May 2021
Shadow ministers call for public consultation on health data review
Two Labour shadow ministers want a public consultation following the findings of Ben Goldacre’s review on the use of health data for research and analysis Continue Reading
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News
04 May 2021
Tech firms unite to advance diversity and inclusion in the sector
The plan will focus on areas such as leadership representation and inclusive product development Continue Reading
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News
30 Apr 2021
Simon Bolton named as NHS Digital interim CEO
Following the announcement of Sarah Wilkinson’s departure as CEO of NHS Digital, the organisation has appointed NHS Test and Trace CIO Simon Bolton as interim CEO Continue Reading
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News
29 Apr 2021
Public sector organisations ‘in the dark’ about where their data is, suggests UKCloud survey
Response to a poll of public sector IT and business leaders suggests few have any idea if their data is stored in the cloud or on-premise, claims UKCloud Continue Reading
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News
29 Apr 2021
UK demand for digital automation skills soars
The need for automation proficiency has more than doubled in the past two years, according to research Continue Reading
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News
29 Apr 2021
GCHQ: Dyslexic thinkers key to solving UK cyber security challenges
Neurodiverse staff are bringing a unique contribution to keeping the country safe, according to the intelligence and cyber agency Continue Reading
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Opinion
28 Apr 2021
IR35 private sector reforms: What firms need to do now the start date has passed
While the start date for the onset of the IR35 private sector reforms may have passed, firms in-scope of the revamped tax avoidance legislation may find themselves still with plenty of compliance work still to do Continue Reading
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News
28 Apr 2021
NHS App to serve as vaccine passport for foreign holidays
Existing NHS App will have vaccine passport functionality added to it, transport secretary confirms Continue Reading
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News
26 Apr 2021
Digital tech potential in health and social care not yet realised, says King’s Fund
Report by health policy think-tank says that although there is evidence that digital technology can support staff and patients, there are large gaps in the evidence base Continue Reading
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News
23 Apr 2021
HMRC downplays significance of CEO email ‘questioning’ legal basis of loan charge policy
A document dump of emails shared between HMRC officials has prompted loan charge campaigners to further question the legal footing of the government’s controversial disguised remuneration policy Continue Reading
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News
22 Apr 2021
GCHQ: Cyber investment a guarantor of UK’s global status
GCHQ director Jeremy Fleming sets out a vision for the UK’s cyber security future Continue Reading
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Opinion
22 Apr 2021
Security Think Tank: Security culture must underpin vaccine passports
What are the security challenges presented by vaccine passports, and how should they be designed and used with ethics and privacy in mind? Continue Reading
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News
21 Apr 2021
Government should do more to protect well-being in the digital world, says report
A select committee report argues that new health and employment rights are needed to tackle the negative effects of increasing digitisation Continue Reading
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News
21 Apr 2021
UK government renews cloud discount pricing MoU with Microsoft
Three-year deal ensures eligible public sector organisations can continue to access discounted pricing on a range of the tech giant's cloud software and infrastructure offerings Continue Reading
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News
21 Apr 2021
Ocado advances autonomous vehicle strategy with Oxbotica deal
The £10m investment is part of a push to enhance Ocado’s last-mile delivery and logistics capabilities, with first prototypes expected for 2023 Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2021
Health app myGP adds Covid-19 vaccine passport function
The new feature is described as the UK’s first NHS-assured Covid-19 certification feature Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2021
Government launches plan for smart use of knowledge and innovation
Strategy sets out how Westminster can harness and achieve better value from £104bn worth of innovation and knowledge assets within central government Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2021
UK technology job creation nears two-year peak
Pace of recruitment accelerates and optimism reaches highest level since 2014, according to KPMG Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2021
Tech professionals most likely to see mental health decline due to pandemic
Struggling to cope with anxiety and new ways of working are among the problems workers in the sector face, study says Continue Reading
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News
16 Apr 2021
Finnish government strengthens country’s IT network security
Finland’s government has created a new national organisation to help public and private bodies improve network security Continue Reading
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News
15 Apr 2021
Google launches multimillion-dollar cloud tech push to boost Covid-19 vaccine distribution
Tech giant Google is ploughing millions of dollars into initiatives to bolster the availability of Covid-19 vaccines and make it easier for people to access information about immunisation programmes Continue Reading
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News
14 Apr 2021
Tesco reports online sales surge, advances digital platform
Retailer announces 77% boost to e-commerce sales, details on Clubcard app uptake and advances in its IT remediation plan Continue Reading
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News
14 Apr 2021
Why Microsoft’s $19bn acquisition of Nuance makes sense
Microsoft regularly demos real-time speech-to-text transcription and has just spent $19bn on bolstering its voice capabilities Continue Reading
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News
14 Apr 2021
Europe provides growth for TCS despite year floored by pandemic
Tata Consultancy Services grows its continental European business despite economic slowdown brought by Covid-19 restrictions Continue Reading
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Opinion
14 Apr 2021
Security Think Tank: Vaccine passports cannot be taken lightly
What are the security issues and challenges presented by vaccine passports, and how should they be designed and used with ethics and privacy in mind? Continue Reading
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Opinion
14 Apr 2021
Security Think Tank: Vaccine passports must be secure by design
What are the security issues and challenges presented by vaccine passports, and how should they be designed and used with ethics and privacy in mind? Continue Reading
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News
13 Apr 2021
Microsoft enters the Dragon’s den with Nuance acquisition
The $19bn acquisition of Nuance firmly plants Microsoft at the forefront of voice recognition. The stage is set to combine voice with artificial intelligence Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Apr 2021
How the Covid-19 Genomics UK Consortium sequenced Sars-Cov-2
Consortium of universities and other institutions has harnessed datasets, analytics and cloud computing to sequence Sars-Cov-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, in a blisteringly short time Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2021
University students adapt to remote learning but question value for money
New research outlines students’ fears around the impact of long-term remote education and lecturers’ skills to operate online Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2021
Loan Charge Group MPs demand IR35 shake-up to stop contractors becoming ‘zero-rights employees’
Inquiry by Loan Charge All-Party Parliamentary Group calls on government to tweak IR35 legislation during passage of next Finance Bill Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2021
Tech industry sees surge in remote working job postings
Pandemic drives an increase in demand for “work anywhere” jobs and hybrid skills, research says Continue Reading
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News
06 Apr 2021
GDS seeks director for identity assurance programme
The new leader will be focused on efforts to deliver a single digital identity system for online public services Continue Reading
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News
31 Mar 2021
NHS is apparently closing security skills gap
By the end of 2020, there were more than twice as many in-house security professionals at NHS trusts as there were two years before Continue Reading
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Opinion
31 Mar 2021
Security Think Tank: Evolving threats, tech, leaves CNI exposed
In light of increasing cyber attacks on critical national infrastructure, what are the immediate risks to industrial control systems and other operational technology, and what steps can be taken to address them? Continue Reading
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News
30 Mar 2021
Privacy campaigners hail legal victory over Hancock and Palantir
Civil liberties organisation OpenDemocracy says it has scored a legal victory over health secretary Matt Hancock regarding the involvement of Palantir in the NHS Covid-19 data store Continue Reading
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News
30 Mar 2021
IR35 reforms: Slow government progress on umbrella regulation exposes IT contractors to tax risks
With thousands of IT contractors set to start working through unregulated umbrella companies for the first time when the IR35 reforms take hold in the private sector, concerns are growing about the danger this could pose to their income and tax affairs in years to come Continue Reading
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News
26 Mar 2021
Sarah Wilkinson resigns as NHS Digital CEO
After four years at the helm of NHS Digital, CEO Sarah Wilkinson will leave in the summer of 2021, and the organisation is looking for an interim replacement Continue Reading
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News
26 Mar 2021
NHS Shared Business Services launches £1bn digital hardware framework
Framework consists of 19 suppliers, and offers user IT hardware products and services to the NHS and public sector organisations Continue Reading
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News
25 Mar 2021
NHS Wales shapes up ambitious plans for digital patient-facing app
Computer Weekly looks at NHS Wales’ project to create a patient-facing app and a collaborative ecosystem for technology suppliers and NHS providers to deliver joined-up care Continue Reading
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News
25 Mar 2021
Liverpool announces test and development area for drone technology
Project aims to stimulate investment opportunities, employment and skills for the region Continue Reading
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News
25 Mar 2021
NHS to digitise the ‘red book’ by 2023
Every child born from April 2023 will have a digital ‘red book’, or personal child health record, Matt Hancock has promised Continue Reading
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News
24 Mar 2021
Cyber criminals forging Covid-19 vaccine certificates
Vaccine passports and certificates are gaining mainstream traction, which means cyber criminals are also on the bandwagon Continue Reading
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News
23 Mar 2021
NUHS taps RPA in Covid-19 swab tests
Singapore’s National University Health System deploys RPA bots to automate patient registration during Covid-19 swab tests as part of broader efforts to improve efficiency Continue Reading
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News
23 Mar 2021
Commission calls for adult social care to get digital revamp
A commission on adult social care has called for the government to fund a personalised social care innovation programme, as well as invest £450m to replace outdated care and housing technology infrastructure Continue Reading
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Opinion
23 Mar 2021
Security Think Tank: Attacks on CNI – an evolving frontier in warfare
In the light of increasing cyber attacks on critical national infrastructure, what are the immediate risks to industrial control systems and other operational technology, and what steps can be taken to address them? Continue Reading
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News
18 Mar 2021
Coronavirus: How PCs in quarantine and intensive care units can be managed remotely
NHS IT staff generally have limited access to deployed devices, especially if that device is in an operating theatre or intensive care unit Continue Reading
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News
18 Mar 2021
Vaccine passports cannot put basic rights at risk, warns BCS
BCS warns of challenges to come as the government presses on with its plans for Covid-19 vaccine passports Continue Reading
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News
18 Mar 2021
NHS will get shared care records by September 2021, says Matt Hancock
The health secretary sets September 2021 target for shared care records roll-out, and wants to explore potential of moving patient data being held in proprietary systems to the cloud Continue Reading
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News
18 Mar 2021
Eastern Health reports ‘cyber incident’, takes systems offline
Australian healthcare provider Eastern Health takes IT systems offline as a precaution while it looks into a cyber incident Continue Reading
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Opinion
17 Mar 2021
Security Think Tank: Take a realistic perspective on CNI cyber attacks
In light of increasing cyber attacks on critical national infrastructure, what are the immediate risks to industrial control systems and other operational technology, and what steps can be taken to address them? Continue Reading
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News
17 Mar 2021
Digital Green Certificate proposed for travel in Europe
Digital Green Certificates will supposedly help re-establish freedom of movement within the European Union Continue Reading
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Opinion
17 Mar 2021
Security Think Tank: CNI operators must focus on core issues
In the light of increasing cyber attacks on critical national infrastructure, what are the immediate risks to industrial control systems and other operational technology, and what steps can be taken to address them? Continue Reading
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News
17 Mar 2021
Nordic healthcare digitisation drives medtech growth
Nordic medtech is growing rapidly as the healthcare sector adopts technologies such as artificial intelligence and the internet of things Continue Reading
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News
16 Mar 2021
Government calls for input into Covid-19 vaccine passports
Evidence gathering exercise will inform the development of the UK’s proposed Covid-19 vaccine passport scheme Continue Reading
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News
15 Mar 2021
Parliamentary PACA Committee slams Gove over Covid-19 data failures
Parliamentary Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee publishes report critical of government accountability regarding data behind the decisions taken during the coronavirus pandemic Continue Reading
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Opinion
15 Mar 2021
Security Think Tank: CNI operators are in an unenviable position
In the light of increasing cyber attacks on critical national infrastructure, what are the immediate risks to industrial control systems and other operational technology, and what steps can be taken to address them? Continue Reading
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News
12 Mar 2021
CW Innovation Awards: Fighting fake Covid-19 vaccines with blockchain
A blockchain-based system developed by Singapore-based Zuellig Pharma can help governments and healthcare providers weed out fake vaccines and manage vaccine distribution and administration Continue Reading
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E-Zine
11 Mar 2021
CW Europe: Nordic tech startups create blueprint for post-Covid working environment
Business can learn lessons from Nordic tech startups to prepare employees to return to the office after Covid restrictions end. Also read why Netherlands police need a training ‘roadmap’ to get them up to speed to tackle cyber crime. Continue Reading
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News
10 Mar 2021
UK launches fellowship to attract tech talent to government
Programme jointly run by Number 10 and Government Digital Service will see 10 leaders enlisted to address key challenges in the public sector Continue Reading
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News
09 Mar 2021
How biotech firm Luminex manages field service
Technicians at Luminex work remotely, but their schedules, spare parts for repairs and customer site visits need to link to tech support and the CRM Continue Reading
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Podcast
09 Mar 2021
Hybrid working, diversity progress – Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast
In this episode of the Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast, Caroline Donnelly, Clare McDonald and Brian McKenna discuss hybrid working, progress in diversity and data in healthcare Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Mar 2021
NHS datacentre transformation projects continue apace during pandemic
NHS trusts have continued to invest in their datacentre estates throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, but the nature of their upgrade projects continues to evolve Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2021
Cumbria and Nottinghamshire care homes pilot diagnostic telemedicine
Two care homes trial telemedicine system that allows GPs to carry out detailed patient assessments without leaving the surgery Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2021
Nordic innovators change emphasis on gender equality in society
Female technology innovators in the Nordics take a different approach to trying to improve opportunities for women Continue Reading
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News
05 Mar 2021
Innovation underpinned by trustworthy governance, says CDEI
Public support for greater use of digital technologies such as AI depends on how much trust people have in its governance, says report Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2021
Parliament bill to create the UK's Advanced Research and Invention Agency
The ‘high-risk, high-reward’ UK equivalent of ARPA will be provided with powers to fund and develop projects, including exemption from freedom of information requests and 10 years to prove its own success Continue Reading
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News
03 Mar 2021
Budget 2021: Tax relief for data and cloud, digital skills for SMEs, more IT firepower for HMRC
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a slew of tech-related measures in this year's Budget, which also included a visa review for highly-skilled IT professionals and a £375m fund for innovative businesses Continue Reading
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News
02 Mar 2021
EU seeking pan-European Covid-19 passport solution
The European Union’s proposal could see the creation of a Covid-19 vaccine passport to enable travel across the EU Continue Reading
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E-Zine
02 Mar 2021
The most influential people in UK technology
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we reveal our annual list of the 50 most influential people in UK IT, and talk to this year’s winner, NHS Digital CEO Sarah Wilkinson, about an unprecedented year of challenges. Also, we examine the best software patching strategies and see how the pandemic has affected women in tech. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
26 Feb 2021
Cyber extortionist threatened to bomb NHS targets
A German court has convicted a 33-year-old Italian man for making extortion and bomb threats against NHS hospitals at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic’s first wave last year Continue Reading
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News
26 Feb 2021
Palantir once more in sights of civil libertarians over NHS Covid data store
The award of a new government contract to data analytics supplier Palantir on the back of its participation in the NHS Covid-19 data store has provoked Open Democracy into legal action, backed up by an exposure of lobbying activity that pre-dates the pandemic Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2021
UKtech50 2021: The most influential people in UK technology
Computer Weekly has announced the 11th annual UKtech50 – our definitive list of the movers and shakers in the UK tech sector Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2021
UKtech50 interview: Sarah Wilkinson, CEO, NHS Digital
The UKtech50’s most influential person in UK IT in 2021, NHS Digital CEO Sarah Wilkinson, talks about how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the speed of projects, staff pressures and key leadership lessons Continue Reading
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News
24 Feb 2021
Vaccine passports prove an ethical minefield
Privacy campaigners warn that vaccine passports may turn out to be discriminatory and invasive, while technologists agree careful consideration must be given to their design Continue Reading
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News
24 Feb 2021
Sadiq Khan wants innovators to support London's recovery
Mayor of London announces partners and goals for the capital’s £1m Resilience Fund, and an extra £500,000 to develop design-led solutions aimed at the challenges presented by the crisis Continue Reading
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News
19 Feb 2021
UK to launch 'high-risk, high-reward' research agency, dubbed ARIA
Backed by £800m of public investment, the Advanced Research & Invention Agency (ARIA) will identify and fund groundbreaking science and technology Continue Reading
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News
19 Feb 2021
European Commission proposes UK data adequacy agreement
The publication of two draft data adequacy decisions brings the UK closer to a final positive decision, which will enable the continued free flow of data between the EU and the UK if green-lit by member states Continue Reading
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News
19 Feb 2021
Interview: From healthcare to healthcare IT provider
One route into IT is to take your knowledge of a certain sector to an IT firm that specialises in it. This is Katy Cain’s story Continue Reading
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Opinion
17 Feb 2021
Healthcare digitisation at point financial services was in 1990s
For all the talk about digitised healthcare, the sector is only where banking was in the 1990s. How can it catch up? Can the Covid-19 pandemic crisis be a catalyst? Continue Reading
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Opinion
17 Feb 2021
Vaccine passports highlight social impact of systems design
Vaccine or immunity passports are an opportunity to advance the design of trustworthy digital systems, but much more work still needs to be done Continue Reading
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News
16 Feb 2021
NHSX set to become part of new NHS England 'transformation directorate'
Latest plans for the National Health Service’s central digital strategy arm are currently at the proposal stage Continue Reading
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News
16 Feb 2021
Covid-19: Risk model identifies 800,000 vulnerable individuals
Research funded by the National Institute for Health Research has resulted in the development of a new coronavirus risk assessment model Continue Reading
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E-Zine
16 Feb 2021
How Covid-19 has hit IT salaries and job prospects
In this week’s Computer Weekly, our salary survey reveals the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on IT professionals’ wages and job security. A potentially deadly cyber attack on a US water plant highlights the risks to critical infrastructure. And we find out how NHS Scotland is using tech to support its vaccine roll-out. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2021
Digital investments will add £232bn to UK economy by 2040
The UK economy could grow by £232bn over the next two decades if investments in digital technologies continue Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2021
UK border surveillance regime highly privatised, says Privacy International
Research from Privacy International raises concerns about the deep involvement of technology companies in the development and deployment of various technologies throughout the UK’s border regime, along with the lack of scrutiny they receive Continue Reading
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News
11 Feb 2021
Hacked Finnish therapy business collapses
Vastaamo, the Finnish psychotherapy centre whose patients were blackmailed by a cyber criminal gang, has filed for bankruptcy Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2021
Government launches review of use of health data for research
The review, which will be led by Ben Goldacre, will look at home-efficient and safe use of health data for research and analysis Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2021
‘Batman Begins’ cyber attack is a warning to CNI providers
A thwarted cyber attack in a Florida town that could have resulted in the poisoning of the water supply is a timely reminder of the vulnerability of critical services Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2021
NHS reports fewer phishing emails in 2020
The NHSmail email service saw a steady decline in suspected phishing emails during the course of 2020 Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2021
Big data platform to speed up DNA analysis
Belgium’s Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre has developed a big data platform that can analyse DNA data up to 16 times faster than current techniques Continue Reading
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E-Zine
09 Feb 2021
Audi fine-tunes its digital performance to boost online car sales
In this week’s Computer Weekly, the digital chief at Audi UK discusses how the carmaker is tackling the slump in new car sales. One of the largest global malware botnets has been taken down, but how much of a blow will it be for cyber criminals? And we hear how one county council made huge savings on its SAP installation. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2021
NHSX backs mobile app to detect kidney disease
The app, which is being funded by the AI in Health and Care Award programme, turns a smartphone camera into a clinical-grade tool to help detect kidney disease Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2021
Data of thousands of Dutch citizens leaked from government Covid-19 systems
Weak access controls and outdated systems blamed for leaking of the personal details of thousands of Dutch citizens tested for Covid-19 Continue Reading