A new region-wide approach to analysing x-rays, MRI scans, CT scans, mammography, and an entire range of crucial diagnostic images, has started to become reality, now that The Pennine Acute has become the first of eight trusts across Greater Manchester to deploy state-of-the-art medical imaging technology.

The Institute of Healthcare Management has called for honest and open communication about NHS capacity after a snapshot survey revealed the scale of sickness absence across the service.

The UK's leading, independent, membership organisation for health and social care managers also said local leaders and communications teams should be allowed to level with the public about their situation, as almost two thirds of poll respondents reported 'worse' or 'much worse' absence levels than they would expect at this time of year.

CliniSys has launched a new laboratory information management system for genomic laboratories in the UK. The company has brought GLIMS Genomics to the UK from Europe, where it is being successfully deployed at Poitiers University Hospital in France and will be introduced into seven additional laboratories in coming months.

Allscripts Healthcare Solutions (NASDAQ: MDRX) announced that Sunrise 20.0 is now generally available. Sunrise is a comprehensive platform of health that connects all aspects of care, including acute, ambulatory, surgical, pharmacy, radiology and laboratory services, and also features an integrated revenue cycle and patient administration system.

A major survey of NHS IT chiefs has revealed that despite more positive attitudes and uptake towards technology as a result of COVID-19, the long-term challenges of digital transformation within hospital trusts remain unchanged and only 14% of respondents believe they have sufficient funding to cover business priorities.

Hospital radio, interviews with iconic musicians, BBC archives and more than 600 healthcare information videos are among the services that patients will be able to access free of charge in hospitals that are signed up to WiFi services by WiFi SPARK. Hospital charities will also benefit from being supported on the SPARK Media platform, in a drive to help boost funds and raise awareness.

Siemens Healthineers and IBM Deutschland are introducing an open digital platform that will advance the networking of the German healthcare system and expand the infrastructure for the provision of digital services. Both partners are bringing their experience and expertise together for the project.