Digital Health Coffee Time Briefing ☕

Your morning summary of digital health news, information and events to know about if you want to be “in the know”.

👇 News

👱‍♀️ Healthcare service provider Affidea has partnered with HealthTech firm Skin Analytics to support its long-term vision of using digital innovation to improve patient outcomes within its integrated skin cancer care pathway. Affidea has implemented Skin Analytics’ DERM, an AI medical device software for automated analysis of skin lesions.

🫁 Phyxiom has announced the launch of its digital platform which allows clinicians real-time insights into lung function and medication adherence for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease management. The technology is operational across 13 Health Service Executive asthma clinics in Ireland and Phyxiom intends to roll out to UK market in H1 2026.

🏆 Rothschild & Co has been announced as a headline sponsor for the UK Tech Awards 2025. The annual awards, owned and produced by Ford Sinclair Ltd, celebrates the UK tech community and spotlights innovation from public, private and high-growth, home-grown tech companies.

🚼 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has introduced a genetic test that reduces the risk of deafness in newborns. The point-of-care test will launch in September 2025 as part of a national rollout funded by the Scottish Government. The Genedrive test can identify babies who have a genetic variant that can lead to permanent hearing loss if treated with a common antibiotic, allowing them to be treated with an alternative.

📈 Wanda Health has secured £1.09 million in funding in its latest investment round. The remote patient monitoring platform will use the funding to accelerate its growth and commercial performance in the US. The company received a £250,000 loan and an investment of £834,000, which was awarded through the UK’s enterprise investment scheme, convertible loan agreement conversions and a debt facility.

❓Did you know?

A study conducted by Dr Sayo Hamatani from the Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Japan, published in the journal ‘Jama Network Open’ on 5 August 2025, has found that a 12-week internet-based programme was able to help women reduce binge eating and compensatory behaviours.

Researchers found that the programme, which used cognitive behaviour therapy techniques delivered online, achieved improved remission rates compared to the traditional treatments offered.

results were published in the journal ‘Jama Network Open’ on 5 August 2025.

Dr Hamatani said: “By establishing a specialist online therapy that can be delivered at home, even patients in remote areas or with busy schedules will find it easier to continue treatment, supporting early intervention and preventing progression to more severe forms.”

📖  What we’re reading

In a blog post for NHS Confederation, Dr Natt Day, head of patient and public involvement and engagement at UCLPartners, takes a look at how the NHS 10 year health plan can help elevate the patient voice.

According to Day, while the plan focuses on patient voice – including a commitment to create a new function within the Department of Health and Social Care focusing on patient experiences – there are also some significant gaps, such the abolition of patient watchdog Healthwatch and the public’s continuing concerns around AI.

Day stresses the importance of involving patients and the public in the design of the health service of the future, drawing on her own experiences and examples from the wider healthcare community.

She writes: “To deliver the 10 year health plan, we must embed meaningful PPIE [patient and public involvement and engagement] at every stage.

“We need to ensure we listen to communities, work with them to identify the best solutions, and co-produce services and solutions as much as possible.

“This will ensure that the shifts that the government want to put in will reflect real needs, tackle inequalities and build trust with communities.”

🚨Upcoming events

19 September 2025, online event –AI and productivity gains