The government has failed to properly legislate for the increasing use of biometric data, leading to oversights and gaps in how it is managed, MPs have warned.
The Science and Technology Committee has voiced concerns about how information is collected, stored and used in its 'Current and future uses of biometric data and technologies' report.
Read more: GB: Government has failed to provide guidelines on use of biometric data, warn MPs
The government has set aside £1.9bn to fund development of better care in the NHS, but health authorities' access to it will depend on them making better use of technology, says health secretary Jeremy Hunt.
The fund has been topped up by local health authorities to reach a total of £5bn, but the government’s central fund of £1.9bn cannot be accessed by authorities unless they have met certain standards, such as implementing electronic health records.
Read more: GB: £1.9bn available to health authorities with electronic patient records
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has warned that a super database that captures and stores data about Scottish citizens' health, which is then shared with other government bodies, would create a national identity scheme by default that may be against current legislation.
The Scottish government wants to build the database to improve the quality of information held within the NHS Central Register (NHSCR), assist with the tracing of certain persons (such as missing children), extend the ability to access online services and enable the identification of Scottish taxpayers.
Read more: GB: Scottish government plan for 'super database' dealt a blow by ICO over privacy fears
It's not often that members of opposing political parties agree with one another, but former Labour and Conservative health ministers are united on one point: technology is the future for healthcare in the UK.
Alan Milburn, Secretary of State for Health between 1999 and 2003, and Stephen Dorrell MP, Secretary of State for Health from 1995 to 1997, agree that smartphones, mobile applications and other new types of information technology are crucial to a better and more personalised NHS service in the future, Computing magazine reports.
Read more: GB: Political Accord: Mobile Technology Is The Future Of Healthcare
Before the Christmas holidays, Furzefield's Year 6 wrote persuasive letters to their head teacher, Mrs Chrysanthou, asking for a new set of technology that could change their learning for good.
In return, she accepted the children's plea and, after the year of 2014 had passed, their wish was granted.
Read more: GB: Surrey: Furzefield Primary School pupils get tech-savvy with new Learn Pad tablets