The UK recorded its highest ever death toll from Covid-19; but cases fell and vaccination numbers rose. NHS England encouraged trusts to set up Covid virtual wards to speed up discharges, matching the successful Covid Oximetry @home scheme to avoid admissions.
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust made the first electronic patient record decision of 2021, picking Cerner. And Swindon and Wiltshire picked a shared care record provider, choosing Graphnet. Plus: exciting news about our advisory board…
England passed more grim milestones as the coronavirus pandemic continued to take its toll on deaths and NHS capacity. But the Department of Health and Social Care managed to publish plans for a significant reform of the Mental Health Act in England.
The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust led the way on a new Sectra PACS and VNA for Greater Manchester. And CliniSys launched a laboratory information system for genomic laboratories; GLIMS Genomics. Also this week: our advisory board debated Bolton NHS Foundation Trust’s use of AI to help doctors read Covid-19 chest x-rays and what other trusts could learn from it.
2021 picked up where 2020 had left off, with a surge in Covid-19 cases, a third lockdown for the UK, stark warnings that London’s healthcare system could be overwhelmed, and increasingly frantic efforts to get a full vaccination programme under way.
Health and tech publications focused on publishing their reviews of 2020 and predictions for 2021, with Highland Marketing clients featuring prominently. We have also published our own blog with tips for marketing, PR and content activity in the coming year. Our big message? In uncertain times, it’s still necessary to plan and to be visible to remain in control of your own destiny.
Healthcare Roundup 22 January 2021