Amazon and Microsoft are some of the US tech firms involved in the NHS-led project to better allocate hospital resources during the coronavirus pandemic.
The data usually collected by the NHS’ 111 telephone service is now set to be combined with additional sources which will be able to predict the need to distribute ventilators, hospital beds, and medical staff across the UK.
Tech companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Palantir and Faculty AI are reported to be aiding the NHS in developing a visual dashboard showcasing the data already collected by the NHS and its partners. The information includes the use of ventilators (by location and type), the number of hospital staff on sick leave, patient occupancy levels, A&E capacity, as well as the length of the hospital stay for patients who tested positive for COVID-19.
The visual dashboard would make it easier for decision-makers to keep track of the spread of the virus, identify hotspots, manage resources, and even divert patients to the hospitals that are most equipped to take care of them.
"Every hospital is going to be thinking: Have we got enough ventilators? Well, we need to keep ours because who knows what's going to happen - and that might not be the optimal allocation of ventilators," a source in one of the tech companies involved told the BBC.
"Without a holistic understanding of how many we've got, where they are, who can use them, who is trained, where do we actually have patients who need them most urgently, we risk not making the optimal decisions."
According to the BBC, Amazon is providing the cloud computing resources required via AWS, while Microsoft Azure has built "gigantic" data storage capacities. Palantir’s Foundry software is said to combine the data sources together.
The involvement of the companies in the initiative comes after they took part in a digital summit at 10 Downing Street, earlier this month, where Boris Johnson called for support from the tech sector in battling the COVID-19 pandemic. The prime minister has since also tested positive for the virus.
-
AI coding tools are booming – and developers in this one country are by far the most frequent usersNews AI coding tools are soaring in popularity worldwide, but developers in one particular country are among the most frequent users.
-
Cisco warns of critical flaw in Unified Communications Manager – so you better patch nowNews While the bug doesn't appear to have been exploited in the wild, Cisco customers are advised to move fast to apply a patch
-
‘Lean into it’: Amazon CEO Andy Jassy thinks enterprises need to embrace AI to avoid being left behind – even if that means fewer jobs in the futureNews Amazon CEO Andy Jassy thinks companies need to "lean into" AI and embrace the technology despite concerns over job losses.
-
Intel makes high-level hires while factory workers are warned of layoffsNews The company is appointing four senior executives as part of efforts to refocus on engineering and customer relationships
-
UiPath names Simon Pettit as new AVP for UK and IrelandNews The seasoned leader will spearhead region-specific transformation projects as UiPath looks to drive operational growth and customer engagement
-
Microsoft workers face a fresh round of layoffs – here’s who could be impactedNews Microsoft will cut 6% of its workforce, equivalent to around 6,000 workers, as part of its latest cost-cutting drive.
-
‘If you want to look like a flesh-bound chatbot, then by all means use an AI teleprompter’: Amazon banned candidates from using AI tools during interviews – here’s why you should never use them to secure a jobNews Amazon has banned the use of AI tools during the interview process – and it’s not the only major firm cracking down on the trend.
-
Amazon's RTO mandate could spark a talent exodusNews A survey of Amazon staff suggests plenty remain unhappy about returning to the office next year
-
Amazon's RTO mandate just hit a major roadblock – it doesn’t have enough office spaceNews The company has told staff in several locations that it won't have room for them all in time
-
“There are other companies around”: AWS CEO Matt Garman says employees pushing back on RTO mandates should quitNews AWS CEO Matt Garman says employees pushing back on RTO mandates should quit
