Latest news with #KarinSmyth
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
A third of Blackpool's five-year-olds have tooth decay says MP
One in three five-year-olds in Blackpool has "visible signs of tooth decay", while only a third of adults in the seaside town have seen an NHS dentist in the last two years, an MP has South MP, Chris Webb, told the Commons that every week his constituents have come to him to raise problems constituents about accessing a said a four-year-old boy from Blackpool was left with agonising tooth decay for two years because of a shortage of dental care minister Karin Smyth said the government is "determined" to improve access to dentists. Webb told BBC Radio Lancashire the mother of the four-year-old boy felt "helpless" and it was "heart-breaking"."She didn't know where to turn, her son's constantly in pain," he said."To treat that with ibuprofen rather than getting into a dentist to solve the problem is just wrong and it just shows how badly the system's been broken and that has to change.""Too many kids are turning up at A&E with a tooth problem, but at that point it's too late and the only course of action is extraction." 'Empty facilities' An survey in February of 10 dental practices in Blackpool by the local branch of consumer health service champion Healthwatch found none were accepting NHS told MPs in a debate on access to NHS Dentistry the problem "seems to be more prevalent in Blackpool because of the deprivation" and it was "essential" to educate parents to make sure they supervised children brushing their said he has been unable to find an NHS dentist in the town for himself since he became an MP a year ago, even though he has been told they have capacity."I've seen dentists where they've got new, fantastic facilities empty because they're not taking any more NHS patients," he said. "So we've got to look at the contract and make sure that it's financially viable and it's incentivised for them to take on more patients."Responding on behalf of the government, Smyth, said: "There are no perfect pay models and careful consideration is being given to any changes to the complex dental system, so that we deliver genuine improvements for patients and the profession."It is an immense challenge, there are no quick fixes and no easy answers, but people across the country deserve better access and we're determined to make that happen." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Land purchased for Basingstoke hospital construction in 2037
The chief executive of an NHS trust has said she is "delighted" that it will be able to purchase land for a new Whitfield, the head of Hampshire Hospitals, confirmed it would buy a site near junction seven of the M3 for a new facility in January she expressed "disappointment" with the government decision to delay construction until said there was no update on the date of the build, but added that that the land purchase does "at least feel like progress". Hampshire Hospitals is expected to receive at least £2bn of funding as part of the Government's New Hospital it is part of the third wave of the scheme, meaning work will not begin on the new building for at least 12 Whitfield said they needed to secure this land so that the option "doesn't disappear on us".She admitted this did not guarantee that the hospital would be built at the site."It is entirely possible that in a decades time the world might have changed a bit," she said."It's very clear that Basingstoke needs a new hospital and it will happen."She said health minister Karin Smyth visited the trust recently and confirmed it "will get built". 'Utterly bonkers' Roy Lilley, a former NHS trust boss, who is now an independent health commentator, is less optimistic and does not think the hospital will be built."It's just totally and utterly bonkers," he said, adding that the government and economy could change by 2037."The money that we are spending at the moment to prop these places up, we could actually use that money to build new hospitals," Mr Lilley said. Kit Malthouse, Conservative MP for North West Hampshire said: "Waiting until 2037 is not just unacceptable — it's senseless. "Forecasting that far ahead is unreliable; by then we'll have had three general elections and a completely different spending landscape. Delaying now risks killing the project entirely."Our population has grown and will grow further. Our existing hospital buildings at Basingstoke are outdated and under strain. "Other communities in the national programme are seeing their hospitals delivered much sooner — why not ours?" A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care said: "The New Hospital Programme we inherited was undeliverable, with funding due to run out in March."This government has confirmed a funding plan and an honest, realistic timetable to put us on track to deliver the rebuild of Hampshire Hospital, and we will work closely with the trust as we progress through our delivery plan."We have also allocated £1bn to address the backlog of critical NHS maintenance and repairs to help ensure hospitals are safe and sustainable." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Business Upturn
5 days ago
- Health
- Business Upturn
World-Leading Cancer Center, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Using AI to Push Boundaries of Cancer Research With NTT DATA and CARPL.ai
London, United Kingdom: This partnership launches a large-scale, AI-powered service designed to accelerate cancer detection and treatment using medical imaging in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is ranked among world's top cancer research centers Marks a milestone in the application of artificial intelligence for cancer research and clinical innovation The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust , a world-leading specialist cancer center, has today announced a pioneering partnership with NTT DATA , a global leader in digital business and technology services, and , a leading enterprise imaging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning operations (MLOps) platform. Together, they have designed and built an advanced AI-powered radiology analysis service for the development and evaluation of AI in medical imaging, designed to transform cancer research and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes. AI's potential to enhance the speed and accuracy of identifying imaging biomarkers has long been recognized. Funded by a three-year grant from the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the service will be used for research at The Royal Marsden and the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), including projects in collaboration with other research teams. This research initiative will focus on developing and evaluating AI algorithms to improve the accuracy of cancer evaluation, including sarcoma, lung, breast, brain and prostate cancers. This will lead to faster response times, more accurate diagnoses and better-targeted treatments. The service runs on a MLOps clinical imaging platform, built and operated by NTT DATA. To enable this, NTT DATA developed a bespoke AI computing solution leveraging high-performance Dell servers and utilizing the latest GPU processing capacity orchestrated by the platform, which helps test and manage AI algorithms and includes a large collection of radiology AI models. NTT DATA is also providing specialist imaging AI consulting services, helping researchers at The Royal Marsden test and evaluate emerging AI tools in real clinical settings, while extracting maximum insight and value from both in-house and commercial algorithms. 'AI has immense potential to support clinicians in diagnosing and treating cancer earlier and more precisely,' said Professor Dow-Mu Koh, Professor in Functional Cancer Imaging and Consultant Radiologist in Functional Imaging at The Royal Marsden. 'By working with NTT DATA and we've created a scalable research environment that allows us to explore the full potential of AI safely and in a way that could one day transform cancer diagnosis and treatment across the NHS.' Minister of State for Health, Karin Smyth, said: 'Our 10 Year Health Plan will modernize the NHS, replacing outdated systems with cutting-edge digital solutions. While this trial is in its early stages, it represents exactly the kind of collaboration between the NHS, industry and academia that will help build a health service fit for the future. Early detection saves lives, and innovations like AI will transform how cancer is diagnosed and treated – helping patients receive faster and more effective care.' Professor Mike Lewis, NIHR Scientific Director for Innovation, said: 'Cancer is one of the biggest killers in the UK. That must change. This three-year grant will help researchers push the boundaries of AI-driven technology for cancer detection and diagnosis. 'This AI-powered service represents the cutting edge of cancer research and it is going to transform treatment, better support NHS staff and ultimately change patients' lives. It is another great example of how NIHR-funded and supported research will ensure the best care is there when patients need it.' Tom Winstanley, Chief Technology Officer at NTT DATA UK & Ireland, commented: 'This service is a great example of responsible innovation in practice, showing the ethical, secure use of AI in healthcare. We are very proud to support The Royal Marsden in pushing the boundaries of cancer research.' Once the service is live, research teams at The Royal Marsden will be able to evaluate a range of AI models across several cancer types. These studies will generate critical insights into how AI can support clinical decision-making and shape future approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Through centralized interface and built-in monitoring tools, the research teams will also be able to track model performance over time, enabling faster feedback loops between development and deployment – a crucial step towards clinical translation. NTT DATA will continue to work closely with The Royal Marsden to support this next phase of research which will ultimately improve cancer care and patient outcomes. About NTT DATA NTT DATA is a $30+ billion trusted global innovator of business and technology services. We serve 75% of the Fortune Global 100 and are committed to helping clients innovate, optimize and transform for long-term success. As a Global Top Employer, we have experts in more than 50 countries and a robust partner ecosystem of established and start-up companies. Our services include business and technology consulting, data and artificial intelligence, and industry solutions, as well as the development, implementation and management of applications, infrastructure and connectivity. We are also one of the world's leading providers of digital and AI infrastructure. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group, which invests over $3.6 billion each year in R&D to help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future. Visit us at About The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust The Royal Marsden opened in 1851 as the world's first hospital dedicated to cancer diagnosis, treatment, research and education. Today it operates as a specialist cancer center and the Trust was delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, who became Joint Patron with His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, in January this year. Together with its principal academic partner, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), The Royal Marsden is designated as the UK's only National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) dedicated solely to cancer. The Royal Marsden and the ICR are recognized as one of the top four comprehensive cancer centers in the world for the impact of their research, influencing cancer treatment and care for all cancer patients. It is a center of excellence, pioneering the very latest in cancer treatments and technologies, as well as leading the way in innovative cancer diagnosis and education. The Royal Marsden operates from three centers, in Chelsea, Sutton and Cavendish Square in central London. It also has a Medical Day Unit in Kingston, and is the founder and host of RM Partners West London Cancer Alliance, which includes St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust, and other healthcare partners across north west and south west London. Driven by the fundamental principle that patients, entrusting their lives to The Royal Marsden, deserve the very best, The Royal Marsden is committed to delivering excellent research‑led cancer care for patients, accelerating early diagnosis, and ensuring treatment and care is personalized for the needs of each individual. View source version on Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Business Wire
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
World-Leading Cancer Center, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Using AI to Push Boundaries of Cancer Research With NTT DATA and CARPL.ai
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, a world-leading specialist cancer center, has today announced a pioneering partnership with NTT DATA, a global leader in digital business and technology services, and a leading enterprise imaging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning operations (MLOps) platform. Together, they have designed and built an advanced AI-powered radiology analysis service for the development and evaluation of AI in medical imaging, designed to transform cancer research and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes. AI's potential to enhance the speed and accuracy of identifying imaging biomarkers has long been recognized. Funded by a three-year grant from the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the service will be used for research at The Royal Marsden and the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), including projects in collaboration with other research teams. This research initiative will focus on developing and evaluating AI algorithms to improve the accuracy of cancer evaluation, including sarcoma, lung, breast, brain and prostate cancers. This will lead to faster response times, more accurate diagnoses and better-targeted treatments. The service runs on a MLOps clinical imaging platform, built and operated by NTT DATA. To enable this, NTT DATA developed a bespoke AI computing solution leveraging high-performance Dell servers and utilizing the latest GPU processing capacity orchestrated by the platform, which helps test and manage AI algorithms and includes a large collection of radiology AI models. NTT DATA is also providing specialist imaging AI consulting services, helping researchers at The Royal Marsden test and evaluate emerging AI tools in real clinical settings, while extracting maximum insight and value from both in-house and commercial algorithms. 'AI has immense potential to support clinicians in diagnosing and treating cancer earlier and more precisely,' said Professor Dow-Mu Koh, Professor in Functional Cancer Imaging and Consultant Radiologist in Functional Imaging at The Royal Marsden. 'By working with NTT DATA and we've created a scalable research environment that allows us to explore the full potential of AI safely and in a way that could one day transform cancer diagnosis and treatment across the NHS.' Minister of State for Health, Karin Smyth, said: 'Our 10 Year Health Plan will modernize the NHS, replacing outdated systems with cutting-edge digital solutions. While this trial is in its early stages, it represents exactly the kind of collaboration between the NHS, industry and academia that will help build a health service fit for the future. Early detection saves lives, and innovations like AI will transform how cancer is diagnosed and treated – helping patients receive faster and more effective care.' Professor Mike Lewis, NIHR Scientific Director for Innovation, said: "Cancer is one of the biggest killers in the UK. That must change. This three-year grant will help researchers push the boundaries of AI-driven technology for cancer detection and diagnosis. "This AI-powered service represents the cutting edge of cancer research and it is going to transform treatment, better support NHS staff and ultimately change patients' lives. It is another great example of how NIHR-funded and supported research will ensure the best care is there when patients need it.' Tom Winstanley, Chief Technology Officer at NTT DATA UK & Ireland, commented: 'This service is a great example of responsible innovation in practice, showing the ethical, secure use of AI in healthcare. We are very proud to support The Royal Marsden in pushing the boundaries of cancer research.' Once the service is live, research teams at The Royal Marsden will be able to evaluate a range of AI models across several cancer types. These studies will generate critical insights into how AI can support clinical decision-making and shape future approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Through centralized interface and built-in monitoring tools, the research teams will also be able to track model performance over time, enabling faster feedback loops between development and deployment – a crucial step towards clinical translation. NTT DATA will continue to work closely with The Royal Marsden to support this next phase of research which will ultimately improve cancer care and patient outcomes. About NTT DATA NTT DATA is a $30+ billion trusted global innovator of business and technology services. We serve 75% of the Fortune Global 100 and are committed to helping clients innovate, optimize and transform for long-term success. As a Global Top Employer, we have experts in more than 50 countries and a robust partner ecosystem of established and start-up companies. Our services include business and technology consulting, data and artificial intelligence, and industry solutions, as well as the development, implementation and management of applications, infrastructure and connectivity. We are also one of the world's leading providers of digital and AI infrastructure. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group, which invests over $3.6 billion each year in R&D to help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future. Visit us at About The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust The Royal Marsden opened in 1851 as the world's first hospital dedicated to cancer diagnosis, treatment, research and education. Today it operates as a specialist cancer center and the Trust was delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, who became Joint Patron with His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, in January this year. Together with its principal academic partner, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), The Royal Marsden is designated as the UK's only National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) dedicated solely to cancer. The Royal Marsden and the ICR are recognized as one of the top four comprehensive cancer centers in the world for the impact of their research, influencing cancer treatment and care for all cancer patients. It is a center of excellence, pioneering the very latest in cancer treatments and technologies, as well as leading the way in innovative cancer diagnosis and education. The Royal Marsden operates from three centers, in Chelsea, Sutton and Cavendish Square in central London. It also has a Medical Day Unit in Kingston, and is the founder and host of RM Partners West London Cancer Alliance, which includes St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust, and other healthcare partners across north west and south west London. Driven by the fundamental principle that patients, entrusting their lives to The Royal Marsden, deserve the very best, The Royal Marsden is committed to delivering excellent research‑led cancer care for patients, accelerating early diagnosis, and ensuring treatment and care is personalized for the needs of each individual.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Rachel Reeves under pressure to find money to ease welfare squeeze
Labour's Rachel Reeves is facing increasing pressure to secure funding for the reversal of the winter fuel payment cuts and address child poverty, amidst mounting demands from within the party. Reeves will present her spending review next month, outlining departmental funding for the upcoming years, which includes £113 billion for infrastructure projects aimed at transforming the UK's housing and transport systems. However, Reeves is being urged to explain how she plans to finance Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's pledge to reinstate winter fuel payments for pensioners. Additionally, she is facing calls to scrap the two-child benefit cap, estimated to cost around £3.5 billion. READ MORE: 16-year-old dies after being stabbed during 'violent' beach brawl READ MORE: Mike Tindall calls for help as he issue update on sad family health news Proposed measures aimed at reducing the welfare bill and encouraging people on benefits to find work may also be scaled back due to opposition from Labour backbenchers, adding to Reeves' challenges. Health minister Karin Smyth described the Prime Minister's announcement to expand winter fuel payments to more pensioners as evidence of a "the sign of a government that is listening". In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Smyth stated: "The Chancellor and the Treasury will have to review all of these in light of the key mission, which is to grow the economy and maintain economic stability." She added that policymakers must weigh the costs and benefits of their decisions, saying: "We know government is hard, and I think listening, looking at policies, how they impact, weighing up those costs and benefits, is exactly the right thing to do." In a separate interview with LBC Radio, Smyth emphasized that addressing child poverty requires a comprehensive approach, saying measures must be considered "in the round". Officials have maintained that there isn't a single "silver bullet" to tackle child poverty. Ms Smyth commented: "We are looking at all measures to improve money in people's pockets and to reduce poverty, in the round, as part of the spending review. That's important, that we take a long-term look at this issue. "The last Labour government lifted those children out of poverty. Of course it's a central mission, that opportunity for children and for their families, of course it's a central mission of this Labour Government." The current policy restricts parents to receiving support for a maximum of two children within the universal credit framework. Labour MP Stella Creasy, known for her campaigning efforts, has stated that abolishing the two-child limit could "take 350,000 children out of poverty overnight". She further noted: "It's worth reflecting on the fact that 60% of those kids are in households where somebody is in work,". The Government's strategy to address child poverty, initially expected in spring, has been postponed to autumn to coincide with the Chancellor's budget announcement. Ms Creasy remarked: "What really matters is that child poverty strategy, because none of us want to be dependent on the welfare system as a way of helping every family make ends meet. "And I am painfully aware of how many people in my local community still have too much month at the end of their money." The Prime Minister is reportedly mulling over "tweaks" to the planned welfare cuts as he confronts the possibility of a backbench rebellion against the measures, which are intended to save £5 billion a year for the public coffers. It's understood from The Times that benefit recipients might be granted extended "transitional periods" to find alternative support if they are adversely affected by the changes. Concerns are growing among MPs, with speculation that more than 100 could defy the party line over the proposed tightening of criteria for the personal independence payment (Pip), aimed at encouraging more working-age benefit claimants into employment. Peter Lamb, Labour MP for Crawley, expressed his opposition on BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour, stating, "I will be voting against anything which is going to restrict access to Pip further than it's currently restricted." He also voiced that many within the Labour Party are "deeply uncomfortable" with the Government's plans. In another development, Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, is poised to pledge the full reinstatement of the winter fuel payment and the abolition of the two-child benefit limit this week. Reform insiders suggest this strategy is designed to win over Labour's traditional working-class base. As Ms Reeves prepares a multi-year spending review amid both financial and political strain, which is anticipated to heighten disputes within the Cabinet over cuts to certain departmental budgets, she faces an intricate balancing act. Speaking to the Guardian, she emphasised, "We are building homes, building infrastructure, whether that's transport or energy. I do want to make sure that we're spending government money to create jobs, apprenticeships, and build supply chains in this country." She outlined forthcoming plans: "At the spending review coming up in June, we will invest more in capital, and we're going to invest £113 billion more in capital spending than the plans we inherited from the previous government. I do want to make sure that every penny of that money works for the British economy and creates jobs." Meanwhile, Sir Mel Stride, the Shadow Chancellor, criticised Labour, saying, "Labour have already lost control of the public finances and abandoned any pretence of fiscal responsibility." He continued pointing out potential issues: "Now they are looking at loading up billions more in welfare spending, paid for either by higher taxes for working families or through yet more borrowing." Stride brought attention to additional fiscal concerns: "When added to the likely cost of their panicked climbdown on winter fuel payments, the Chancellor faces a potential £5 billion black hole." He did not mince words regarding her performance: "Rachel Reeves's credibility is having new holes torn in it by the day."
