News we love this week…
Disability-themed emojis coming this year
The introduction of dozens of new accessibility-themed emojis has been welcomed by disability rights campaigners. The new characters include hearing aids, wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, white “probing” canes and guide dogs.
Read more from the BBC.
Pharma fact
Self-regulation by the pharmaceutical industry isn’t working, say experts
Self-regulation by the pharmaceutical industry has led to a drastic drop in transparency around the influence of drug companies on healthcare, an analysis of more than 900 drug company reports has found. In 2015 changes were made to transparency reporting requirements in the pharmaceutical industry’s code of conduct.
Read more from the Guardian.
Top in tech
Top five digital health technologies announced
Forbes has listed the top five digital health technologies for 2019
They are:
1. Artificial intelligence
2. Augmented reality
3. Data
4. Blockchain
5. Virtual reality
Read more from Forbes.
However, AI “won’t solve all our problems” report warns
The Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare paper, commissioned by NHS Digital, looked at the clinical, ethical and practical concerns surrounding AI in the health and social care system in the UK.
It warned that organisations “should avoid thinking AI is going to solve all the problems the health and care systems across the UK are facing”. The report also said that claims AI can replace specialist clinicians are unlikely, but future doctors may also require training in data science.
Read more from digitalhealth.
NHS news
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals began an investigation into the deaths, two of which happened in the past four months. Toby Lewis announced the investigation, which is expected to last two months.
Chief nurse Paula Gardner said she and Mr Lewis would “commission external advice to support the trust and the maternity team to learn for the future” once the investigation was complete.
Read more from the BBC.
Quote of the week
“I wonder whether you would say that to a male chief medical officer”.
This week, Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies called out Radio 4 presenter Nick Robinson for sexist remarks.
While discussing whether parents should ban children from having their phones in their bedrooms at night, Robinson suggested Davies could be accused of ‘nannying” and “stating the obvious”, to which the Professor asked, “I wonder whether you would say that to a male chief medical officer”.
She was quickly interrupted by Robinson who stated: “No, I said you are often accused of being a nanny, I didn’t say I accused you of being a nanny. You are often said are you not?”. Davies simply responded by saying: “Clever”.
Read more from the Independent.