Data reveals cancer screening uptake; Grants to fund men's health projects; Digital participation 'national challenge'
Cancer screening uptake figures highlighted
PIF member Bowel Cancer UK has revealed that a third of people eligible for bowel cancer screening in the UK do not complete their test. The charity shared the data during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month to highlight that there is room to improve the number of people taking part in screening. Genevieve Edwards, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said: “The earlier bowel cancer is found, the more treatable it’s likely to be, with more than 9 in 10 people surviving the disease when diagnosed at the earliest stage. This Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, we want everyone who receives their free bowel cancer screening test to complete and return it as soon as possible."
Investment in men's health projects
The People’s Health Trust has joined forces with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Movember charity to support community-led men’s health projects and tackle health inequalities. The Men’s Health Community Fund will invest at least £6.3 million in community and grassroots organisations in the country’s most deprived areas. The funding will support men and boys aged 16 and over during key moments in their lives like the transition to fatherhood, job loss or retirement. Grants awarded by People’s Health Trust through the fund will help organisations experienced in working with men and older boys to provide practical support around social and economic pressures, improve mental health and reduce isolation.
Find out more about the new partnership on The People's Health Trust website here.
Digital participation is a national challenge
The first report from The Connection Project, a national alliance with a mission to ensure everybody in the UK can thrive in a digital society, has been published. The Misconnected report highlights how digital participation remains much lower than it could be in the UK. It is not an issue just affecting a small group of people or an elderly minority – it is a widespread national challenge. The report says the UK is falling behind when it comes to trust, satisfaction and confidence in digital services. It states the pace of digital change is accelerating, with analogue systems disappearing and AI changing the face of services faster than ever. The report suggests some conditions needed for a successful digital society, including reliable and affordable access and usable design.
Read the full report on The Connection Project website here.
Printed resources coming to an end
The Department for Health and Social Care has announced its free, printed campaign resources will no longer be available. The DHSC said as it moves towards a digital-only offer, it is taking the opportunity to run down the stocks of the free printed resources currently available on the Campaign Resource Centre. Demand is expected to be high and people are urged to place an order for printed resources while stocks are available. The campaigns with in-stock resources, as announced this week, included the Better Health Smoke Free campaign; The Start for Life campaign; Top Tips for Teeth; Childhood Nutrition and Obesity; and Every Mind Matters.
Find the DHSC Campaign Resource Centre website here.
New maternity care standards for Scotland
The ALLIANCE has welcomed changes set out in the final Maternity Care Standards published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland. The new standards follow a public consultation. The ALLIANCE's response drew on lived evidence from a joint research project and a focus group. The ALLIANCE said there is clear evidence its feedback helped strengthen the final version of the standards. One area it advocated for was improved communication as accessible information is critical to making informed decisions about maternity care. The ALLIANCE said within the final standards, communication has been strengthened overall, with greater emphasis on providing information that is accessible and tailored to individual needs.
Read about the new standards on the ALLIANCE website here.
AI told people invented disease was real
In this news feature, Nature discusses how scientists invented a fake disease which AI chatbots then repeated as if it were real. The article shares how "bixonimania" was created by a team led by a medical researcher at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. They invented the skin condition then uploaded two fake studies about it to a preprint server in early 2024. The experiment was carried out to test whether large language models (LLMs) would take the misinformation and then offer it as reputable health advice. Within weeks of the information about the condition being uploaded, major AI systems began repeating the invented condition as if it were real. The fake papers were also later cited in peer-reviewed literature.
Read the article on the Nature website here.
New AI patient complaints project
PIF member Barts Health NHS Trust has been using AI to make the patient complaints process quicker and more efficient. At the trust's Newham Hospital, a new AI project has helped to reduce time spent on administrative tasks, enabling staff to focus more on supporting patients directly. Over six months, the team has:
- Cut the time spent drafting response letters by more than half.
- Responded to more patients, more quickly.
- Significantly reduced the number of cases that needed to be reopened.
The trust said the AI tools used are part of the secure Microsoft Copilot system approved for NHS use and all responses are still carefully reviewed and approved by staff.
Read more on the Barts Health NHS Trust website here.
Help shape inclusive dementia care
The DETERMINED research project wants to hear from people living with dementia who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. The project is a collaboration of researchers at seven UK universities and is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). It aims to find out how we can make dementia care and outcomes in the UK more equal. The DETERMIND study is now creating the UK's largest research group of LGBTQIA+ people living with dementia, to help shape more inclusive dementia care. To learn more or get involved, contact [javascript protected email address].