AI in healthcare recommendations; AI chatbots for health; Pharmacies’ potential to support men’s health
AI in healthcare: Recommendations issued for regulatory framework
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)’s National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare has published its recommendations for a future regulatory framework. Recommendations for a future regulatory framework fall under three headings: proportionate lifestyle regulation, system-wide responsibility and safe management, and trust transparency and predictability.
PIF contributed to the MHRA's consultation in February and called for steps to be taken to mitigate the impact of misinformation.
Read the recommendations in full on the UK Government website.
Third of UK adults have used AI chatbots for health
A new survey shows that more than 1 in 3 UK adults are turning to AI for health advice – but usage varies by age and mindset. Younger and more proactive Brits are driving health AI use, while trust concerns hold others back. The information from Opinium's new Health Proactivity Index also shows that half of UK adults struggle to trust AI for health decisions, slowing wider adoption despite growing interest.
Read more in this Opinium blog.
Forum highlights pharmacies’ potential to support men’s health
There is a missed opportunity to convert men's regular presence in pharmacies into active support, according to the Men's Health Forum. While most men regularly use a pharmacy, very few of them ever discuss their health with a pharmacist. Its new report highlights ways to boosting men's health, improve pharmacy footfall and reduce pressure on the NHS.
What can neighbourhood health look like in practice?
A new trio of case studies from the Cheshire and Merseyside VCFSE Health and Care Transformation Programme shows how voluntary organisations are helping communities. The three case studies show what can happen when community organisations, residents and health and care partners work to help people access support earlier and tackle health inequalities. They range from connecting people with welfare advice through primary care, to improving lung screening in Kirkby and tackling underdiagnosis of dementia in Netherton.
Read more on the Voluntary Sector North West website here.
The future of patient feedback
How can feedback be made easier, more meaningful and less of a burden for patients? What role should digital tools and AI play in the future of patient feedback? These are some of the questions The King's Fund will explore in a new project with partners National Voices, Edge Health and The Foundation. 'The future of patient feedback' has been commissioned by NHS England to design a future patient, user and carer feedback system.
Ministers to unpick Healthwatch abolition
Ministers have indicated they will amend the Health Bill in the Lords to preserve an independent local voice for patients and care users. Speaking in the Commons, health minister Karin Smyth committed to “review these provisions [on the abolition of Healthwatch] and ensure that our approach sufficiently empowers and devolves to local populations”. HSJ understands MPs have been assured there will be changes to the bill, although details have not been decided.
Read more on Health Service Journal (subscribers only).
ALLIANCE reflects on Self Management Programme
2026 marks 20 years of the ALLIANCE and 17 years of the Self Management Fund, which was established in 2009. The fund has now granted over £31 million to 518 projects. These include supporting young people in Dumfries and Galloway to get active, to providing self-management courses in Shetland.
Read a blog reflecting on two decades of progress here.
Learn more about the Self Management Fund on the ALLIANCE Scotland website.
Report outlines steps to ensure equitable access to primary care
A new report examines why people in England struggle to access primary care and what changes are needed to overcome these barriers. 'First Point of Care: A Plan for a better NHS front door through Connected Primary Care' follows a cross-party Inquiry led by the All-Party Parliamentary Health Group. This was the first inquiry of its kind to examine all four primary care sectors together. This recognises that patients do not experience general practice, community pharmacy, NHS dentistry and optometry as four separate systems.
Read more and download the report from cross-party think tank Policy Connect here.
Listen: Health literacy and AI
A new podcast focused on health literacy explores how generative AI tools like ChatGPT Health are reshaping how people understand and act on health information. The episode of Health Literacy Out Loud discusses the benefits and risks of AI, and what people who care about health literacy can do now when it comes to AI and AI health.