Digital Health Coffee Time Briefing ☕

Your morning summary of digital health news, information and events to know about if you want to be “in the know”.

👇 News

🧑🏾‍💻 Kidney Research UK is rolling out an education platform to support an estimated 15 million people in the UK living with kidney disease and related conditions. Kidney Essentials offers a variety of tools and resources in multiple languages, designed to improve patient outcomes, reduce wait times and lower health inequalities. The programme is delivered via Cognitant Group’s patient engagement platform, Healthinote.

🤝 Doctify has partnered with private medical insurer WPA to launch a patient-facing care directory. WPA Healthcare Finder enables WPA members to search for and book consultations from care providers, based on their symptoms or condition. The platform also features verified patient reviews, professional skill endorsements and live appointment booking experience via integrations with major providers.

🏅NHS Digital Academy is launching a cyber security apprenticeship scheme under efforts to shore up the NHS’s cyber security workforce. Starting in September 2025, the level 4 Cyber Security Technologist Apprenticeship is a 24-month programme aimed at those who are looking to develop their knowledge and understanding of key cyber security concepts and techniques.

🩸Blood testing company Thriva has joined forces with medical device manufacturer Tasso to offer “needle-free” at-home blood testing. The partnership aims to make blood testing accessible and pain-free for individuals with needle phobia, which is thought to affect one in 10 adults. The Tasso+ device is attached to the top of the arm and deploys a lancet into the skin at the press of the button. Blood is then collected in an attached vial.

🩻 Digital pathology provider Diagnexia has partnered with AI diagnostics company Stratipath to expand access to Stratipath Breast, an AI-based prognostic risk profiling tool for invasive breast cancer. The tool will be integrated into Diagnexia’s digital pathology network and made available to healthcare providers across the UK and Europe. It uses AI to analyse standard histopathology images and classify tumours into high- and low-risk categories.

❓Did you know? 

A survey of 500 UK healthcare workers by Pocketalk has found that more than one in 10 face language barriers on a daily basis.

The average time spent addressing language challenges amounts to over one hour per week, or a little over half a working day each month.

More than a third of healthcare workers expressed concern about safeguarding issues arising from misunderstandings due to language differences, the survey found.

📖 What we’re reading

Research by healthtech consultancy Nuom has found that nearly two-thirds (65%) of adults with a physical or mental disability worry that AI will result in speed and efficiency being prioritised over person-focused care.

Nuom’s survey of 2,000 UK adults living with a disability found that 37% worry about being “left behind” as AI becomes more prevalent in the healthcare sector, with many already facing barriers accessing care.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) said they were concerned that advances in AI healthcare tools could exclude individuals who lack confidence in using technology, while 74% believe that companies designing AI health solutions should do so with input from people with disabilities to ensure it meets their needs.

Despite this, 48% of respondents would trust AI tools to provide medication reminders and automate repeat prescriptions, which Nuom said highlighted how digital tools could provide valuable support if implemented thoughtfully.

Martin Sandhu, managing partner at Nuom, said: “The benefits of AI in healthcare are becoming more well known, from improving outcomes to easing pressure on stretched frontline services.

“But without inclusive design at its core, there’s a real risk that these technologies could widen the very inequalities they’re meant to help address.

“Done well, AI has the potential to improve accessibility, offer more personalised care, and support greater independence.

“But to get there, we need to build systems that work for everyone.”

🚨 Upcoming events

9 May, webinar – Digital Frontiers in Paediatric Care