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
🤝 Digital mental health company Psyomics has partnered with independent provider Priory to launch a new assessment pathway for adults aged 18–65. Co-developed with the University of Cambridge, the platform standardises data capture to reduce delays, free up clinician time and support faster, evidence-based treatment decisions. In November 2024 the companies partnered to deploy its AI-informed triage tool, Censeo.
🏆 Digital platform Quick Care has been recognised at the 2025 Scottish Pharmacy Awards for its impact on NHS consultations. Developed in-house by the independent KinWell Pharmacy, Quick Care offers private digital consultations in-store and online. The platform has saved an estimated 100 hours of staff time per month and is now preparing for rollout across Scotland.
♥️ PocDoc has partnered with Superdrug to offer its at-home cardiovascular disease (CVD) test in over 180 pharmacies across the UK and online. The Healthy Heart Check test provides a full cholesterol profile and heart risk assessment, with results sharable via the NHS App. The move aims to improve early detection of CVD, which causes 170,000 UK deaths annually – 80% of which are considered preventable through earlier screening.
🟢 The Welsh Identity Verification Service (WIVS) is now live across all GP practices in Wales. WIVS enables patients to verify their identity in person at their GP practice, offering an inclusive route for people who may not have access to common forms of photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence. Once verified, patients can unlock full access to services offered by their GP practice within the NHS Wales App.
😴 Cancer care provider GenesisCare UK has partnered with wellbeing organisation The Sleep Project to launch a dedicated sleep support programme for people with cancer. The service offers tools, webinars and expert guidance to help patients improve sleep during treatment and recovery. With up to 69% of cancer patients affected by sleep issues, the programme aims to support wellbeing and strengthen immune health through better rest.
❓Did you know?
Almost two-thirds of UK industrial organisations plan to introduce robotics, yet many are unclear on when or how to proceed, according to new data from technology company QNX.
A white paper, published in April 2025, reports that while most industry leaders – including those in healthcare – say they feel safe working with robots, more than one in five report previous safety risks, and nearly a third remain concerned about security.
A third of decision-makers (31%) also believe current policies and regulations are inadequate, with 64% citing unclear guidance on ethical use as a key barrier.
📖 What we’re reading
The study ‘Clinical implementation of AI-based screening for risk for opioid use disorder in hospitalised adults‘, published on 3 April 2025 in Nature Medicine, finds that an AI tool can help hospitals identify patients at risk of opioid use disorder and connect them to addiction support more effectively.
Developed by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, the tool runs in the background of electronic health records, scanning clinical notes to flag high-risk patients.
During the eight-month trial, it led to the same number of specialist referrals as doctors alone; however, patients identified by AI were 47% less likely to be readmitted within 30 days, saving around $109,000 (£82,000) in healthcare costs.
The study covered more than 51,000 hospital stays and triggered 727 addiction consultations. Researchers say the results show how AI could make it easier for hospitals to offer timely addiction care, especially in busy settings where screening is often missed.
Lead author Majid Afshar, associate professor of medicine at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, said: “Our study represents one of the first demonstrations of an AI screening tool embedded into addiction medicine and hospital workflows.”
🚨 Upcoming events
29 May, virtual event – NHS Workforce 2025
