News round-up (June 11)

In this week’s round-up we go from cutting edge technology that can detect bowel cancer from inside your gut, to research on how people with eating disorders may be adversely affected by remote care…

Bowel sensors among 20 new healthcare tech projects to win funding

An interesting article on the UKRI website about researchers aiming to develop tiny robotic sensors to detect bowel cancers.

Using cutting edge terahertz imaging, the sensors could be used in colonoscopies or even to detect skin tumours, allowing for diagnosis without having to wait for biopsy results.

The project, led by the University of Warwick, is one of 20 innovative projects supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

FemTech has a key part to play in women’s health strategy

Jenny Thomas, programme director at DigitalHealth.London, discusses how issues raised at a roundtable on ‘FemTech’ could help shape UK policy on women’s health.

She urges women entrepreneurs, health and care professionals, female researchers, and those involved in the third sector to share their views in the current consultation exercise UK government’s Women’s Health Strategy. But you don’t have much time – the closing date is June 13.

It’ll take more than money to fix Britain’s social care system

Max Parmentier, CEO of healthtech start-up Birdie, writes in CityA.M on how it is almost a cliché to say that the elderly care sector is in crisis. 

But of course it’s true: a quarter of UK home care providers face bankruptcy and it’s estimated that English local authorities will face a £4.4bn funding gap by 2023.

He discusses how the population is ageing so rapidly (over 65s will double in population by 2050) that soon, no feasible amount of new money alone will be enough to keep the system afloat.

Towards enhanced post-operative recovery

An interesting piece on the 3M website highlights a new development that could improve post-op healing following a surgical procedure.

Complications can potentially compromise the healing process, leading to delayed rehabilitation, poor outcomes, and lower patient satisfaction. 

For example, breast reconstructive surgery is associated with a 33% overall complication rate and 19% of patients require another operation.

The company have come up with a new therapy designed to manage the incision and surrounding soft tissue. Benefits include reducing the need for frequent dressing changes and it also enables the patient to move around more easily.

New funding for research into remote healthcare for eating disorders during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond

Northumbria University health and cyber psychologist Dr Dawn Branley-Bell has been awarded a Medical Research Foundation Fellowship as one of four projects supported by £1.1 million of new funding to tackle eating disorders and self-harm.

The project will explore what we can learn about the causes, prevention and future treatment of eating disorders following the rapid transition to remote care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent research by Dr Branley-Bell suggests that many individuals with eating disorders have experienced worsened symptoms during the pandemic. Concerns include individuals seeing themselves more often on video calls, giving more opportunities to be self-critical of their appearance, or being asked to weigh themselves at home.

Serenity Integrated Mentoring model promotes mental health

The Health Innovation Network reports on an innovative mental health model called Serenity Integrated Mentoring (SIM). 

It brings together police and community mental health services to better support “high intensity users” of Section 136 of the Mental Health Act and public services.

In 2018 SIM was selected for national scaling and spread across the Academic Health Service Network Network. The model is now live in all south London boroughs and is being supported by the High Intensity Network.