Health Secretary announces £250 million investment in artificial intelligence

The AI Lab will bring together the industry’s best academics, specialists and technology companies to work on some of the biggest challenges in health and care, including earlier cancer detection, new dementia treatments and more personalised care.

AI is already being developed in some hospitals, successfully predicting cancer survival rates and cutting the number of missed appointments.

The AI Lab’s work could:

  • improve cancer screening by speeding up the results of tests, including mammograms, brain scans, eye scans and heart monitoring
  • use predictive models to better estimate future needs of beds, drugs, devices or surgeries
  • identify which patients could be more easily treated in the community, reducing the pressure on the NHS and helping patients receive treatment closer to home
  • identify patients most at risk of diseases such as heart disease or dementia, allowing for earlier diagnosis and cheaper, more focused, personalised prevention
  • build systems to detect people at risk of post-operative complications, infections or requiring follow-up from clinicians, improving patient safety and reducing readmission rates
  • upskill the NHS workforce so they can use AI systems for day-to-day tasks
  • inspect algorithms already used by the NHS to increase the standards of AI safety, making systems fairer, more robust and ensuring patient confidentiality is protected
  • automate routine admin tasks to free up clinicians so more time can be spent with patients

The lab will sit within NHSX, the new organisation that will oversee the digitisation of the health and care system, in partnership with the Accelerated Access Collaborative.

The investment will support the ambitions in the NHS Long Term Plan, which includes pledges to use AI to help clinicians eliminate variations in care.

The Prime Minister said:

The NHS is revered for the world-class care it provides every day – a treasured institution that showcases the very best of Britain.

But it is also leading the way in harnessing new technology to treat and prevent, from earlier cancer detection to spotting the deadly signs of dementia.

Today’s funding is not just about the future of care though. It will also boost the frontline by automating admin tasks and freeing up staff to care for patients.

My task is to ensure the NHS has the funding it needs to make a real difference to the lives of staff and patients. Transforming care through artificial intelligence is a perfect illustration of that.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said:

We are on the cusp of a huge health tech revolution that could transform patient experience by making the NHS a truly predictive, preventive and personalised health and care service.

I am determined to bring the benefits of technology to patients and staff, so the impact of our NHS Long Term Plan and this immediate, multimillion pound cash injection are felt by all. It’s part of our mission to make the NHS the best it can be.

The experts tell us that because of our NHS and our tech talent, the UK could be the world leader in these advances in healthcare, so I’m determined to give the NHS the chance to be the world leader in saving lives through artificial intelligence and genomics.

Simon Stevens, NHS England Chief Executive, said:

Carefully targeted AI is now ready for practical application in health services, and the investment announced today is another step in the right direction to help the NHS become a world leader in using these important technologies.

In the first instance it should help personalise NHS screening and treatments for cancer, eye disease and a range of other conditions, as well as freeing up staff time, and our new NHS AI Lab will ensure the benefits of NHS data and innovation are fully harnessed for patients in this country.




Appointment to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has appointed Mr Chris Welch as a Board Member of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE). The appointment will take effect from 1 August 2019 for a period of six months or until permanent Board Member appointments are made, whichever is earlier.

In the absence of Northern Ireland Ministers, this appointment was made possible by powers under the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018.

  1. The NIHE is a Non-Departmental Public Body, established by the Housing Executive Act (Northern Ireland) 1971. Under this Act, the NIHE took over the housing responsibilities of 65 separate authorities and became Northern Ireland’s overall housing authority. It is currently landlord to approximately 86,500 dwellings and is one of Northern Ireland’s largest public sector organisations with a budget of over £740m and a staff of approximately 2,700. The NIHE Board is responsible for the efficient, effective and economic delivery of the Housing Executive’s services. It determines policies within its overall aims and objectives and makes decisions on operational and organisational strategies.
  2. The current remuneration for the position of a Board Member is £6,740 per annum, with an expected time commitment of 1 day per month.
  3. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland Code of Practice.
  4. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires political activity of appointees to be published.
  5. Mr Welch has been a senior manager in six social housing providers, including Acclaim Housing Group, through which he has experience of contributing to planning and implementing strategy and operational responses. He also has experience of leading strategic reviews, streamlining processes and implementing improved management systems. He is a Trustee of Inspire North and a former Trustee of York CVS. He holds no other public appointments and has had no political activity during the last five years.



Foreign flagged ships detained in the UK during July 2019

During July, there were three new detentions of foreign flagged vessels in a UK port.

  1. In response to one of the recommendations of Lord Donaldson’s inquiry into the prevention of pollution from merchant shipping, and in compliance with the EU Directive on Port State Control (2009/16/EC as amended), the Maritime and Coastguard agency (MCA) publishes details of the foreign flagged vessels detained in UK ports each month.

  2. The UK is part of a regional agreement on port state control known as the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MOU) and information on all ships that are inspected is held centrally in an electronic database known as THETIS. This allows the ships with a high risk rating and poor detention records to be targeted for future inspection.

  3. Inspections of foreign flagged ships in UK ports are undertaken by surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. When a ship is found to be not in compliance with applicable convention requirements, a deficiency may be raised. If any of their deficiencies are so serious they have to be rectified before departure, then the ship will be detained.

  4. All deficiencies should be rectified before departure.

  5. When applicable, the list includes those passenger craft prevented from operating under the provisions of the EU Directive on Mandatory Surveys for the safe operation of regular ro-ro ferry and high speed passenger craft services (1999/35/EU).

Notes on the list of detentions

  • Full details of the ship. The accompanying detention list shows ship’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) number which is unchanging throughout the ship’s life and uniquely identifies it. It also shows the ship’s name and flag state at the time of its inspection.
  • Company. The company shown in the vessel’s Safety Management Certificate (SMC) or if there is no SMC, then the party otherwise believed to be responsible for the safety of the ship at the time of inspection.
  • Classification society. The list shows the classification society responsible for classing the ship only.
  • Recognised organisation. Responsible for conducting the statutory surveys: and issuing statutory certificates on behalf of the flag state
  • white (WL), grey (GL) and black lists (BL) are issued by the Paris MoU on 01 July each year and shows the performance of flag State. *Deficiencies The deficiencies listed are the ones which were detainable. Further details of other deficiencies can be provided on request.

SHIPS DETAINED IN JULY 2019

Vessel Name: THORNBURY

GT: 56115

IMO: 9226970

Flag: Bahamas (white list)

Company: Lundqvist Rederierna AB

Classification society: DNV GL

Recognised organisation: DNV GL

Recognised organisation for ISM Doc: DNV GL

Recognised organisation for ISM SMC: DNV GL

Date and place of detention: 2nd July 2019 at Newport

Summary: eight deficiencies with seven grounds for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for detention
12107 – Fire protection cargo deck area Leaking Yes
07105 – Fire doors/openings in fire resisting divisions Not as required Yes
11117 – Lifebuoys incl. provision and disposition Not ready for use Yes
04109 – fire drills Lack of training Yes
10109 – Lights, shapes, sound-signals Inoperative Yes
18401 – Medical equipment, medical chest, medical guide Expired Yes
11124 – Embarkation arrangement survival craft Not properly maintained Yes

This vessel was released on 5th July 2019

Vessel Name: DOUWE- S

GT: 2862

IMO: 9467225

Flag: Netherlands (white list)

Company: Steenstra H

Classification society: Lloyds List

Recognised organisation: Lloyds List

Recognised organisation for ISM Doc: Lloyds List

Recognised organisation for ISM SMC: Lloyds List

Date and place of detention: 2nd July 2019 at Newport

Summary: twenty-eight deficiencies with two grounds for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for detention
15150 – ISM Not as required Yes
11101 – Lifeboats Inoperative Yes

This vessel was still released on 6th July 2019

Vessel Name: MARIS

GT: 3999

IMO: 9122239

Flag: Germany (white list)

Company: USC Barnkrug GmbH & Co KG

Classification society: DNV GL

Recognised organisation: DNV GL

Recognised organisation for ISM Doc: DNV GL

Recognised organisation for ISM SMC: DNV GL

Date and place of detention: 15th July 2019 at Warrenpoint

Summary: six deficiencies with one ground for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for detention
04102 – Emergency fire pump and its pipes Inoperative Yes

This vessel was released on 18th July 2019

DETENTIONS CARRIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS MONTHS

Vessel Name: KUZMA MININ

GT: 16257

IMO: 7721263

Flag: Russian Federation (Grey list)

Company: Murmansk Shipping Co

Classification society: RMRS

Recognised organisation: RMRS

Recognised organisation for ISM Doc: RMRS

Recognised organisation for ISM SMC: RMRS

Date and place of detention: 18th December 2018 at Falmouth

Summary: thirteen deficiencies with six grounds for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for detention
01220 – Seafarers’ employment agreement (SEA) Expired Yes
18314 – Provisions quantity Insufficient Yes
01139 – Maritime Labour Certificate Expired Yes
01101 – Cargo Ship Safety Equipment (including exemption) Survey out of window Yes
10104 – Gyro compass Inoperative Yes
01104 – Cargo Ship Safety Radio 9 (including exemption) Survey out of window Yes

This vessel was still detained on 31st July 2019

Vessel Name: POSEIDON

GT: 1412

IMO: 7363217

Flag: Iceland (White list)

Company: Neptune EHF

Classification society: NA

Recognised organisation: NA

Recognised organisation for ISM Doc: DNV-GL

Recognised organisation for ISM SMC: DNV-GL

Date and place of detention: 19th July 2018 at Hull

Summary: ten deficiencies with two grounds for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for detention
02106 – Hull damage impairing seaworthiness Holed Yes
07113 – Fire Pumps Insufficient Pressure Yes

This vessel was still detained on 31st July 2019

Vessel Name: TECOIL POLARIS

GT: 1814

IMO No: 8883290

Flag: Russian Federation (Grey list)

Company: Tecoil Shipping Ltd

Classification society: RMRS

Recognised organisation: RMRS

Recognised organisation for ISM DOC: RMRS

Recognised organisation for ISM SMC: RMRS

Date and place of detention: 6th June 2018 at Immingham

Summary: twenty-seven deficiencies with eight grounds for detentions

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for detention
10105 – Magnetic compass Inoperative Yes
10104 – Gyro compass Inoperative Yes
11129 – Operational readiness of lifesaving appliances Not as required Yes
10127 – Voyage or passage plan Not as required Yes
15150 – ISM Not as required Yes
11104 – Rescue boats Not properly maintained Yes
11101 – Lifeboats Not ready for use Yes
01117 – International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) Invalid Yes

This vessel was still detained on 31st July 2019

Vessel Name: CIEN PORCIENTO (General Cargo)

GT: 106.

IMO No: 8944446.

Flag: Unregistered.

Company: Open Window Inc.

Classification society: Unclassed.

Recognised organisation: Not applicable.

Recognised organisation for ISM DOC: Not applicable.

Recognised organisation for ISM SMC: Not applicable

Date and place of detention: 4 March 2010, Lowestoft

Summary: thirty deficiencies including seven grounds for detention

This vessel was still detained on 31st July 2019

Notes to Editors • The MCA is a partner in the Sea Vision UK campaign to raise awareness and understanding of the sea and maritime activities. Sea Vision promotes the importance and economic value of the sector and works to highlight the exciting range of activities and career opportunities available to young people within the UK growing maritime sector.

• Follow us on Twitter: @MCA_media

For further information please contact Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office, on: +44 (0) 2380 329 401 Press releases and further information about the agency is available here.




British High Commission in Bangladesh places Digital Messaging Boards at Dhaka and Sylhet Airport

The British High Commission in Bangladesh, in collaboration with Civil Aviation Authority in Bangladesh, has placed digital messaging boards in the arrival areas of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and International and Domestic arrivals at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet. HE Robert Chatterton Dickson, the British High Commissioner in Bangladesh, along with Group Captain Abu Sayeed Mehboob Khan, Airport Director of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, inaugurated the digital messaging boards.

These digital messaging boards in Dhaka and Sylhet international airports will display essential information on the UK’s Consular assistance for British nationals, emergency helpline 999, and useful advice for British nationals who are travelling to Bangladesh. While inaugurating the boards HE Robert Chatterton Dickson, the British High Commissioner in Bangladesh thanked the Civil Aviation Authority in Bangladesh for their cooperation.

The High Commissioner stated, “Over 100,000 British nationals travel to and from Bangladesh each year and most of the visits are trouble free.” He added, “Our Consular team provides assistance to British nationals in a wide range of issues, the level and type of assistance we offer is tailored to the individual circumstances of each case.” As an advice to the British nationals visiting Bangladesh, the High Commissioner stressed on having comprehensive travel insurance which will help pay for any medical emergency or additional flights if as a result their travel plans have to change.

The initiative of placing digital messaging board is a part of the British High Commission’s ongoing Consular assistance for British nationals. The assistance from Consular section includes providing emergency travel documents to British nationals in urgent need of travel and helping to contact friends and family in the UK, necessary support to the victims of forced marriages or any British national who got arrested or detained in Bangladesh, and supporting grieving families so that they can cope with a bereavement.

British nationals can visit https://www.gov.uk/world/bangladesh and sign up for the Bangladesh travel advice, guidance and tip.

Further information

British High Commission Dhaka
United Nations Road
Baridhara
P O Box 6079
Dhaka – 1212
Dhaka
Bangladesh

Email: Dhaka.Press@fco.gov.uk

Follow the British High commissioner to Bangladesh on Twitter: @RCDicksonUK

Follow the British High commission Bangladesh on Twitter and Facebook: @UKinBangladesh and UK in Bangladesh




Lord-Lieutenant for Angus: 8 August 2019

The Queen is pleased to appoint Mrs Patricia Ann Sawers as Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for Angus to succeed Mrs Georgiana Osborne, CVO who is due to retire on 24th August 2019.

Mrs Sawers was born in Carnoustie and raised on a local farm. She was educated at the High School of Dundee and Robert Gordons College Aberdeen.

Primarily her career was in Information Technology where she was project manager with Scottish Hydro Electric for fifteen years and a programme manager with Scottish Water for a decade. In 2014, she left full term employment to concentrate her energies on the role of Chair of Carnoustie Golf Links (CGL).

She joined CGL in November 2010, became Vice Chair in 2012 and the first female Chair in 2014. She helped to establish CGL as a Charitable Trust setting out a vision for the organisation to become world leading. Since becoming a Charity in 2014, the organisation has given £185,000 to 65 community groups and charities. It provides free junior golf to local schools and she was involved in the setup of Memories Golf, an organisation which helps comfort and support dementia sufferers.

Mrs Sawers has represented CGL on a number of business forums, including Tay Cities deal and local business groups. She was at the helm of the organisation while hosting a number of major golf events. During her tenure she has developed the participate in golf programme’, aimed at introducing women and families into golf.

Her most recent achievement was the hosting of The 147 th Open Championship, a worldwide sporting event viewed by a television audience of 600 million, bringing in an estimated £21 million to the local economy. In November 2018, she received the special recognition award for services to golf tourism.

Mrs Sawers is married to David, they have three sons and six grandchildren. Her date of birth is 2nd February 1958 and she is aged 61.