Industry news in brief

Our latest industry round up features news that Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has deployed technology which helps give a  more detailed and accurate history of procedures and costs. Elsewhere, a DoctorLink survey has revealed less than a quarter of GPs believe the NHS app will be delivered on time.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust deploys Zebra technologies

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has deployed a number of scanning technologies from Zebra Technologies.

The trust introduced Zebra’s MC18 and MC55 devices which are used to scan patient wristbands every time consumables or implants are administered, and barcodes when opening sterile instrument wrappers.

This helps the trust build an easily accessible, detailed and accurate history of procedures and costs, says Zebra.

After implementing the technology, the trust claimed it saw £5 million of balance sheet adjustments recovered through improved stock management, which helped it to make cost savings.

Less than a quarter of UK GPs surveyed believe the NHS app will be released on time

Less than a quarter of UK GPs are confident the NHS app will be delivered on time, a survey by DoctorLink has revealed.

A total of 1,003 GPs were surveyed by the company about the use of technology in primary care.

The NHS App is due to be launched in December. However, only 14% of those questioned were confident that the NHS App will launch by the end of the year.

A further 61% believe the app is likely to actually increase the number of patients wanting to see a GP in person.

The survey also found that doctors are split over the fundamental question of whether digital services are important in improving the quality of primary care, with 52% saying it is important and 40% thinking that it isn’t.

When asked what was the most significant problem that technology must solve, GPs most often named face to face appointments as their top priority (33%).

Health tech start-ups selected for Google residency programme

A number of health tech start-ups have been selected for Campus London’s latest residency programme.

Campus London is Google’s centre for supporting the UK’s start-up community. The four-month programme will see Campus London support six promising start-ups from the ‘tech-for-good’ sphere.

The programme offers residents access to the Campus London community, Google resources and global industry experts, as well as tailored technical and business support.

Karelnn, a healthcare app for coordinating care and Spill, a therapy/counselling app that matches patients with therapists, have both been selected to be part of the programme.

Open Bionics wins South West health tech award

Open Bionics has won the Best in Health Tech category at the South West Digital Awards.

The company, which hails from Bristol, was recognised for creating the world’s first clinically tested, medically certified and FDA-registered 3D printed bionic arm.

Judges noted the ingenuity and flexibility of the product, with testers including former paralympic athletes and children.

Other categories included Software of the Year and App of the Year.

Talkhealth to run free online clinic on arthritis and pain management

Talkhealth is to run a free online clinic on arthritis and pain management.

The independent online health community is running the clinic from 4 October until 19 October.

For those 12 days, anyone can ask questions on a range of issues surrounding arthritis and pain management.

Clinical experts will be available to answer any questions on related issues, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and psoriatic arthritis.

Deborah Wyatt, Talkhealth’s director, said: “One of the most common reasons people in Britain seek health advice is due to arthritis and pain management.

“There are several different types of arthritis that affect people, and some of them also have an impact of people’s mental wellbeing. It’s clear that the sheer number of people suffering from arthritis in Britain is damaging the economy through days lost from work, and it is putting a huge strain on the NHS.”