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
🔥 The digital team at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have been recognised for its work in delivering and supporting the implementation of an electronic patient record (EPR). The trust was recognised as one of the top 10 trusts in NHS England’s EPR National Usability Survey for its rollout of the Kiya EPR, and will now be tasked with creating blueprints that NHSE will use as part of a toolkit for an upcoming EPR optimisation programme.
🌳 Leighton Hospital, part of Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has been awarded more than £32,000 to install solar panels to help cut energy bills and support sustainability. The project, funded by Great British Energy, will generate an estimated 34,000kWh of electricity a year – the equivalent of powering more than 12 UK homes annually – while saving the trust around £9,500 annually.
🧬 Patients with advanced skin cancer in England are set to be fast-tracked into trials of a new cancer vaccine. The needle-free injection, which is given for up to two years, works by boosting the immune system’s response and helping it recognise, attack and remember cancer cells, preventing it from returning. The first patients are expected to be referred for the vaccine in May 2025.
🤖 A robot designed improve knee surgery is now being used at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH). The VELYS Robotic Assisted Solution improves surgical precision by equipping surgeons with the information needed to preserve soft tissue, predict joint stability and work towards returning knee function. NUH is the first trust in the region to use robotic knee placement surgery, which has a positive impact on patient outcomes and wait times.
⚡ A new carbon-saving electric vehicle is being trialled by the porter team at Hull Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s Castle Hill Hospital through a partnership with East Riding of Yorkshire Council. The four-wheeled, electric-powered eCargo Bike will be used to carry linen, gas cylinders and other medical equipment and essentials around the 168-acre Castle Hill site, with a trial period lasting 12 months.
❓Did you know?
Almost two-thirds (65%) of UK adults over the age of 65 want more choice over how they access primary healthcare services, such as opting between in person and video GP appointments, according to a survey commissioned by digital-first healthcare provider Livi.
More than half 52% of respondents surveyed reported having delayed or avoided seeking medical help due to the difficulty of getting an appointment, while 46% said delays in accessing healthcare have worsened their medical issues or prolonged their recovery.
Livi, which commissioned the survey, is calling for improved flexibility and accessibility in the UK’s primary healthcare system, with digital and physical care integration, ensuring that older patients receive the care they need when and how they need it.
Dr Tom Davis, medical Director and country manager from Livi, said: “This new data reveals the urgent need to include over 65s in digital healthcare pathways and give them the choice to access healthcare in the way that best suits them.
“Digital care isn’t just about shifting appointments online—it’s about smarter integration with in-person services to give people choice and ease of access.
“When used properly, digital care expands capacity, making it easier for patients with complex needs to see a GP face-to-face.
“The UK must move beyond outdated perceptions of digital care and support models that genuinely blend digital access with physical treatment.”
🎧 What we’re listening to
In the National Health Executive (HSE’s) latest podcast, ‘Virtual wards aren’t just about cutting costs’, Dr Gurnak Singh Dosanjh, deputy CCIO at NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, discusses how virtual care can empower patients to take charge of their health while receiving the support they need from home.
Dosanjh argues that virtual wards are often introduced too late, when patients are already unwell and unfamiliar with the model.
Instead, he stresses the need to engage people earlier, when they are well, to build understanding and confidence. He argues that if virtual wards are introduced too late their uptake may be limited, especially among groups facing language, education or digital access barriers.
Dosanjh also highlights safety concerns, such as safeguarding risks and living conditions, that must be assessed before deciding whether virtual care is appropriate. He says virtual wards should be one option in a flexible system where patient needs and clinical judgement guide decisions.
🚨 Upcoming events
30 April, webinar – ‘Aiming for better lifelong outcomes from birth through enhanced innovation
