Some of the latest innovations in healthcare include new clinical software being rolled out across Europe; pathology services transformed in Northern Ireland; orthopaedic robots used at Circle Health hospitals; and the completion of £15 million endoscopy unit in North Cumbria.

Clinical decision support software launched across Europe

Wolters Kluwer Health intends to roll out its clinical decision support software to healthcare systems and hospitals in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region from July. 

With its AI search capabilities, clinicians can now use the software to receive highly focused verbatim answers using natural language queries.

“Leveraging AI technology, UpToDate Enterprise Edition goes beyond traditional decision support to provide unparalleled quality that supports streamlined, integrated workflows and faster time-to-answers, ultimately fostering patient engagement and transforming care delivery,” said Christian Cella, vice president of the international segment for clinical effectiveness at Wolters Kluwer Health.

The software is in early release at 40 of the largest health systems in EMEA joining the more than 350 health systems in North America that already use it. 

Northern Ireland rolls out laboratory information management system

Now that it has gone live at Western and Southern health and social care trusts, every pathology service in Northern Ireland is now using the Clinisys WinPath laboratory information management system. 

Western and Southern Trusts went live with the laboratory information management system in their microbiology, blood sciences, and blood transfusion services at the end of April. 

Previously, both organisations were using a system developed by the Business Services Organisation (BSO) that was 30 years old and at the end of life.

“The completion of the CoreLIMS roll-out marks a major milestone in the transformation of pathology services across Northern Ireland. For the first time, every health and social care trust is working from the same modern laboratory system, creating a truly connected service that puts patients first,” said Northern Health Trust chief executive Jennifer Welsh, who leads the Northern Ireland Pathology Information Management System.

Clinisys won the contract in October 2021 and the first phase of the project was completed two years later, when Belfast and South Eastern health and social care trusts started to use the system in November 2023. They were followed by the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service (NIBTS) and cellular pathology services in June. Northern Health and Social Care Trust did so in October. 

Circle Health hospitals to use orthopaedic robots

Circle Health Group, the UK’s largest independent hospital operator, has said that it plans to use Johnson & Johnson MedTech’s VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution for knee replacement across the UK. 

The deal will see the latest orthopaedic robotic assisted-solution available at Circle’s hospitals in Glasgow, Manchester, Reading, Basingstoke and Great Missenden.  

The robot delivers implant placement and predictable results that show patients recover from surgery with increased mobility and shorter stays in hospital.  

“As an orthopaedic surgeon myself, I know first-hand that patients are looking for faster recovery times and an improved quality of life post-surgery. The arrival of these systems promises to offer our patients the latest and best technology at a time and location convenient to them,” said Peter James, group medical director at Circle Health Group. 

North Cumbia complete £15 million endoscopy unit

North Cumbria Integrated Care has completed its new £15 million endoscopy unit at the Cumberland Infirmary which will open late this month. 

The new unit will be able to treat more patients, helping to reduce our waiting lists and improve timely diagnosis, particularly for cancers. It includes five clinical rooms and an outpatient area, enabling more patients to receive endoscopy procedures locally.

“This modern new facility will make a huge difference to both our patients and our staff, and it is great to see the hard work of a number of people and organisations come together to create a unit that will support outstanding care,” said Adrian Clements, executive medical director for North Cumbria Integrated Care. 

Patients will now be able to access endoscopy faster – more patients will receive their diagnostic procedure within six weeks of referral in line with national standards. The additional rooms will also have capacity to provide more lists per week avoiding unnecessary travel outside of the region.