Figures compiled by NHS England reveal online searches for advice on common childhood illnesses surged in 2024. Five of the top 10 most visited health conditions on the NHS website last year mostly affect children. Visits to the hand, foot and mouth disease page increased from 1.9 million in 2023 to 2.8 million. This moved it from the 14th most viewed page to the third. Visits to the page on slapped cheek syndrome more than tripled from 830,000 visits in 2023 to 2.6 million. COVID-19 remained the most viewed health condition on the NHS website in 2024 with 3.7 million visits. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was second with 3.6 million visits.
Find out more about the online search figures on the NHS England website here.
Evidence for the use of AI systems to support different types of decision-making in mental health has been explored in a new study. Researchers found AI systems provide support in several domains of mental health, including early detection, diagnostics, treatment, and self-care. However, the use of AI systems in care flows faces several challenges. These include factors affecting accuracy, increase of demand, trustworthiness, patient-physician communication and engagement with the AI systems. The study concluded the evaluation of the use of AI systems in mental health is still in its early stages, with a need for more empirically-focused research on real-world use.
Read more about the study's findings via the JMIR website here.
A new report by the Health and Social Care Academy explores how creative projects are helping to tackle stigma perpetuation. The report is informed by interviews with 11 participants working on projects underpinned by creative engagement and anti-stigma approaches in health. The findings highlight how creative engagement can have a positive impact on participants’ wellbeing and can broaden and deepen conversations surrounding complex topics.
Read the full report on the ALLIANCE website here.
NHS communications professionals are being invited to share their views on the use of AI. The NHS Confederation and the AI in NHS Communications Taskforce are inviting feedback on an engagement paper on the use of AI in NHS communications. The paper outlines proposals for implementing AI tools across all NHS communications channels. It combines insights from earlier work and poses new questions. A series of regional feedback sessions are underway and a survey is now open. The engagement period will end on 28 February.
Find out more about how to share feedback on the NHS Confederation website here.
A four-part series published by the NHS Confederation explores how integrated care systems are faring against their core purposes. The latest edition examines how systems are improving health outcomes. The deep dive highlights how "working together differently" has led to notable improvements in health in Bedford, Birmingham and Solihull, and Surrey. It says this will be vital in contending with projected patterns of illness in England over the next two decades.
Access the latest edition on the NHS Confederation website here.
The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (ALLIANCE) is hosting a webinar on post-menopausal health and healthy aging across the life course. The webinar is part of the ALLIANCE's winter programme of events on women's health, delivered in partnership with the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan team. The webinar, being held on 13 February from noon until 1.15pm, aims to raise awareness of health experiences post-menopause, and provide tips and advice on how to support long-term health at any age.
Find out more and register for the webinar on the ALLIANCE website here.