Press coverage

On Thursday 11 January 2018, Reform launched its report, Thinking on its own: AI in the NHS. The report was covered in a range of different publications including The Independent, The Register, Computer Weekly, UK Authority, Pulse Today, Government Computing, Science Business, The British Journal of Healthcare Computing, IT Pro, CBR Government, The Public Purse, Gizmodo, Digital by Default News, Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, The King’s Fund, Think Digital Partners, Cloud Pro, Cognition X, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Digital Health, Data IQ, AI Vexo, Machine Learning, Pharmafield, In Focus, Telecare LIN, The Robotics Law Journal, Evidence in Mind, ZPB, Royal College of Nursing, Healthy London Partnership, Essex LPC, Health Estates and Facilities Management Association, Primary Care Commissioning Community Interest Company, LinkedIn, Outcomes Based Healthcare, Internet of Business, Government Computing, Older People’s Commission for Wales, Open Mind, British Journal of Healthcare Computing, Health and Social care.ai, Healthcare News, Lord Darzi’s report: Better health and care for all: a 10 point plan for the 2020s, Barclays, The Register, Nuffield Bioethics, Good Governance Institute, The Royal Society, Knowledge Brief, Oxford Insights, Frontline (physiotherapy magazine for CSP members), The Medic Portal, Pharma Times and DKV (Deep Knowledge Ventures). The Mayor of London's report on AI also features the report. 

Global coverage includes Elecfans in China, DigiNews in Taiwan, in Russia (here, here and here), AI Policy Labs in the USA, Ministry of Health library in New Zealand, Quebec Newsletter and the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health in Canada, E-health Research in Norway, in Australia and in California. It was also mentioned in the World Health Organization's report on digitizing national health systems in Europe. Reform‘s report is specifically mentioned on pg 23 -4, along with a mention for Eleonora Harwich, Director of Research and Head of Digital and Tech Innovation specifically.

Reading lists that mention the report include Keyah Consulting, Wilton Park, IBM Watson Health and the Kent Surrey Sussex AHSN’s recent report.

Welcoming the Department of Health and Social Care’s policy paper, ‘The future of healthcare: our vision for digital, data and technology in health and care’, Reform Research Manager, Maisie Borrows said:

“This paper places a welcomed emphasis on getting the basics right in the digital architecture of the NHS. There is a digital divide within the current system. On the one hand, parts of the NHS are innovating and using Artificial Intelligence to improve diagnosis of conditions. On the other, the NHS remains strongly attached to archaic technology, such as fax machines, to share patient information. Building open data standards, secure data storage and interoperability will overcome this divide and mean all patients benefit from a tech-enabled NHS.”

Rose Lasko-Skinner, Researcher at Reform, wrote an article* for Public Sector Executive on social value in public procurement. The article discusses the importance of social value and considers possible next steps, following the amendment of the Social Value Act, to be taken to improve procurement practice.

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Commenting on today’s report, Maisie Borrows, Research Manager at Reform, said:

“Whilst the report sheds light on an unwelcome “integration lottery” in local health and care systems, it also highlights the positive role of technology in accelerating joined up care. Integrated care records enabling effective data sharing are fundamental to this, improving care quality and reducing unnecessary admissions – a win-win for service users and providers, which we need to see more of.”

This statement was covered in Pharmafield and Public Sector Executive. 

Maisie Borrows, Research Manager at Reform, wrote a piece for Glint Perspectives on how public services could use technology to improve productivity. Her piece draws parallels with innovation in the private sector to explore what lessons the public sector could learn.

Read it here.

Following the publication of Reform‘s report, Smarter Working in public services: the HMRC experience so far, Researcher Luke Heselwood wrote an article for Civil Service World exploring what other departments can learn from HMRC’s smarter working agenda.

“Smarter working can help to break down the traditional silos of government, with more shared spaces and technology. By doing so, it can improve service delivery and help to reach Sir Michael Barber’s aim of achieving maximum value for every pound spent.”

Read the article here.

Reform‘s latest report, Smarter Working in public services: the HMRC experience so far, assesses how far HMRC have adopted Smarter Working principles to become more efficient and effective.

It has received coverage in UK Authority, Civil Service World and Public Technology.

Maisie Borrows, Research Manager, contributed an article to the recently published Braintree whitepaper on AI in Government and Public services. Following the publication, she was quoted in both Government Computing and Open Access Government, saying “AI can have a profound impact on how the civil service runs. From defence to health, a greater use of AI can lead to more efficient, effective and productive public services. At its most basic level, AI can replace repetitive tasks and allow civil servants to focus on more complex work. More sophisticated AI has the potential to change the entire nature of work, allowing public services to predict and prevent future challenges.”

Eleonora Harwich, Director of Research, appeared on Sky News on 17 August to discuss the Government's new project to tackle the problems in Britain's 10 most challenging prisons. She argues that whilst extra £10 million of funding is a good thing, we cannot forget about the wider prison reform and how we can improve outcomes longer term and reduce re-offending.