Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to be rolled out more widely across the NHS in a bid to diagnose diseases and treat patients faster. The Government has announced a £21 million funding pot that NHS trusts can apply for to implement AI tools for the likes of medical imaging and decision support. This includes tools that analyse chest X-rays in suspected cases of lung cancer. AI technology that can diagnose strokes will also be available to all stroke networks by the end of 2023 – up from 86% – and could help patients get treated faster and lead to better health outcomes. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the technology could help cut NHS waiting lists ahead of winter. At a time when diagnostic services are under strain, it is critical that we embrace innovation that could boost capacity Dr Katharine Halliday of the Royal College of Radiologists Bids are being welcomed for any AI diagnostic tool, although the DHSC said they “will have to represent value for money for the funding to be approved”. The Government has invested £123 million in 86 AI technologies to date. Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, added: “The NHS is already harnessing the benefits of AI across the country in helping to catch and treat major diseases earlier, as well as better managing waiting lists so patients can be seen quicker. “As we approach our milestone 75th birthday, this is another example of how NHS is continuing its proud history of adopting the latest proven technology to deliver better care for patients, and better value for taxpayers.” Dr Katharine Halliday, president of the Royal College of Radiologists, said embracing innovation is “critical”. She added: “At a time when diagnostic services are under strain, it is critical that we embrace innovation that could boost capacity – and so we welcome the Government’s announcement of a £21 million fund to purchase and deploy AI diagnostic tools. “All doctors want to give patients the best possible care. This starts with a timely diagnosis, and crucially, catching disease at the earliest point. “There is huge promise in AI, which could save clinicians time by maximising our efficiency, supporting our decision-making and helping identify and prioritise the most urgent cases. Together with a highly trained and expert radiologist workforce, AI will undoubtedly play a significant part in the future of diagnostics.” The funding package comes after NHS England’s chief executive Amanda Pritchard said further applications for AI in the health service are on the horizon. In a keynote speech, she told delegates at the 2023 NHS ConfedExpo: “As a national health service, we are in prime position to be able to make this technology available quickly. And our national commercial powers make us well placed to get the best deal for taxpayers.” Debates around how advancements in AI should be regulated are ongoing. Earlier in June on a visit to the US, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he wanted to avoid “scaremongering” discourse around the technology, but acknowledged it could pose the same risks as nuclear war and pandemics if not monitored appropriately. Days earlier, minster for tech and digital economy Paul Scully urged for the focus of the conversation to shift from a “Terminator-style scenario” to AI’s potential usefulness, particularly in healthcare. The Government recently launched the AI & Digital Regulation Service to help NHS staff find information and guidance on deploying AI safely. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live 5 French skincare secrets you need to know What happens if you don’t wash your water bottle often enough? Prince George visits Eton with parents Prince William and Kate Middleton

Whether you’re jetting off on holiday or simply promenading at your local park, sandals are the perfect solution to warm-weather dressing. That being said, finding city-appropriate footwear that doesn’t make you a target for mockery can be a tricky business. While getting some fresh air to your feet is essential during summer, sandals as a sartorial choice for men can be frowned upon so it’s important to carefully consider the dos and don’ts of baring those toes. So, is it really possible to wear sandals without having to sacrifice fashion over function? As expected, sandals were in abundance at the spring/summer 2018 menswear collections from outdoorsy Velcro types at Louis Vuitton and Paul Smith, to classic leather at Guiseppe Zanotti and even dual-strapped versions worn with chunky socks at Bottega Veneta. While the latter is a hit on the runway and beloved by geography teachers everywhere, for real-life wear a new focus on more contemporary and slick iterations means you can finally rock an open-toe without shame. Designer options are of course favourable but considering us Brits rarely, if ever, get a decent summer, it seems wiser to pinch your pennies at least a little. In this instance, high street brands like Cos, Arket and Russell & Bromley all offer sophisticated footwear options. However, if you’re looking for something more sporty, OG sandal brand Teva should be your go-to. Historically shunned by the fashion crowd, these simple sporty sandals are now considered cool. Even more so since their recent collaboration with high-end Japanese brand Porter. Whatever your choice, the even trickier dilemma comes with how to style them. The easiest way is to pair yours with shorts and a simple T-shirt, perhaps layered under a sleek Cuban shirt. However, for smarter occasions wearing sandals with trousers can be conflict-ridden. If you do want an alternative to the shorts and sandals combination, we suggest investing in a smart leather pair and to always team with a slim leg pair of trousers with turned-up hems, so as to avoid looking like you’ve taken a trip back to the Seventies. Read More London Fashion Week Men’s: Five key trends for SS19 5 French skincare secrets you need to know Carrie Bradshaw changes ‘painful’ narrative of wedding dress in And Just Like That Glastonbury 2023: All the best fashion at the biggest UK festival of the year

There’s a reason the French look is held to the highest standard in beauty. Everyone wants a piece of that effortlessly cool aesthetic, and French beauty products are some of the best in the world. Dr Marine Vincent, founder of The French Pharmacy, notes the French approach favours “a more minimalistic and effortless look”. She says: “French women lean towards a more natural aesthetic, prioritising a prevention-focused and holistic approach to beauty. “French women value taking care of their skin as a form of self-care and overall wellbeing. They understand that healthy skin is a reflection of a healthy lifestyle.” Plus, Vincent says “embracing your individuality and cultivating self-confidence are key elements of French beauty”. If you want to get more of a Parisian glow, take a look at some of these French skincare secrets… 1. Adopt positive habits early on “In French culture, skincare is indeed ingrained from a young age, and I believe it comes again from the wellbeing and holistic approach to beauty,” Vincent reflects. “We see it as part of our self-care, not as an option.” She says she learned the “significance of using quality products” growing up, and her mother “taught me to cleanse, moisturise and protect my skin from an early age” – with her first moisturiser from classic French pharmacy brand Avène. “Time has passed and I now gave the same advice to my 12-year-old daughter,” Vincent adds – now adding sunscreen into that list, which is “one of the most effective anti-ageing skincare tools”. Part of forming these positive habits is consistency, which Vincent says is “key in skincare, as it helps to maintain the skin’s balance and prevents common issues such as acne or premature ageing, so starting early will allow you to establish good habits early on, making it easier to maintain them in the long-term”. 2. Use French pharmacy products “If you’re looking for effective skincare without all the fancy marketing and high price tags, French pharmacy beauty products are definitely worth exploring,” says Vincent. “They’ve got a solid reputation for a reason.” One of the reasons they’re so good is they “focus on simplicity”, Vincent suggests. “French skincare brands often prioritise using key active ingredients that are known to work wonders for the skin. It’s all about delivering visible results without any fuss.” Look out for brands like La Roche-Posay, Avène, Caudalie and Bioderma – helping you get science-based, effective products without breaking the bank. Bioderma Hydrabio Serum, £20, Escentual Caudalie Vinopure Moisturizing Mattifying Fluid, £25 3. Try endermologie This secret is a bit pricier than pharmacy skincare products, but many French women swear by it. Endermologie is a treatment where a therapist uses a machine with various settings on your body or face. “It is very renowned for its amazing results, primarily on cellulite, sagging skin [and] body contouring,” suggests LPG Endermologie ambassador Nathalie Paradis. She says it’s “powerful” in “increasing firmness, but at the same time very respectful of the skin, especially when it’s fragile”. Endermologie isn’t quite a household name in the UK, but is much more prominent in France where there’s a more holistic approach to beauty. Paradis says: “We are facing a new era where beauty cannot be separated from health, and where people can benefit from this technology to reach their goals of wellbeing in an increasingly stressful environment.” Becoming increasingly popular in UK salons, it can also be used to treat scars or scar tissue. 4. Get the ‘French touch’ Vincent says thermal water spray is the extra “French touch” you can add to your beauty bag and use “all year long”. According to Vincent, some of the best uses of thermal water spray are before applying hyaluronic acid serums (you “need moisture to be effective”, she says), to “fix your make-up”, to refresh your face in summer and “to layer in between your skincare steps and add an extra layer of hydration”. Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray for Sensitive Skin, £15.50, Boots Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Spa Water, £9, Look Fantastic 5. Use a secret weapon Is cica cream in your routine? This is the nickname for centella asiatica creams and “long before [it was a] TikTok trend, all French women have one in their beauty bag”, Vincent says. According to Vincent, it’s useful for any skin irritation (cracked lips, burns, baby rashes, etc), dry areas (like elbows or knees), after sun, as a skin recovery mask and as a moisturiser. La Roche Posay Cicaplast Balm, £10, Boots Bioderma Cicabio Pommade – Repairing Ointment, £8, Escentual Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live What happens if you don’t wash your water bottle often enough? Prince George visits Eton with parents Prince William and Kate Middleton King Charles and Queen Camilla ecstatic after getting their first Royal Ascot winner

TRIESENBERG, Liechtenstein--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 23, 2023--

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Reusable water bottles are beneficial in so many ways. Helping keep you hydrated, they also cut down on single-use plastic, and save you money every time you refill instead of buying a new bottle of water. Plus, with all the chic stainless steel flasks and glass bottles on the market – not to mention sporty carrying straps – they’ve become something of a fashion accessory. Trying to hit the NHS-recommended eight glasses of water a day for adults is an excellent idea, of course, but did you know there’s one way your refillable bottle could potentially be detrimental to your health? According to a study from waterfilterguru.com, reusable water bottles contain an average of 20.8m colony-forming units (CFUs) of bacteria, which equates to 40,000 times more than the microbes on a toilet seat. So what might be the consequences if you continuously sip and refill without washing your bottle properly between uses? We asked health experts to talk through the risks… Bottling up bacteria “A common misconception when it comes to reusable water bottle hygiene is that as you’re typically filling it with pure water and it’s only coming into contact with your own mouth, there’s little need to clean it often,” says Dr Donald Grant, senior clinician at The Independent Pharmacy. However, every time you drink from the bottle, you’re transferring bacteria from your mouth, which can then multiply in the container. “Anything that is reusable can be prone to accumulating dirt, dust or debris and, as a result, bacteria,” says private GP Dr Suhail Hussain. “This is exacerbated by the fact water bottles are the ideal environment for harbouring bacteria due to being moist.” Hard to reach crevices – for example, inside a screw top or under a flip-up straw – could also develop mould, and then there’s contamination from other sources. “When you store it in a gym bag, for instance, it can pick up bacteria from the interior of the bag or anything else stored in it, while you can also transfer bacteria from your hands to your bottle,” says Grant. “If your bottle has a valve cap, you may need to lift or twist it with your fingers, and this can transfer bacteria you may have picked up from touching other objects or surfaces.” What types of microbes are found in water bottles? “These might be simple commensals such as streptococcus and staphylococcus, which normally live in symbiosis with their host (i.e. us) but can become problematic if they accumulate, or the individual is under the weather,” Hussain says.“Bacteria such as E. coli – a common cause of urine and bowel infections – can often colonise the water bottle following repeated handling, such as taking the cap on and off.” These bacteria can potentially cause a variety of issues. “You may become sick and develop gastric illness, such as diarrhoea or vomiting,” Hussain continues. “Gram negative rods – another common bacterium found in unwashed bottles – can lead to urogenital tract infections and pneumonia.” Grant warns: “If there’s a build-up of mould inside the bottle, this can cause allergy symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, or red and itchy eyes. Symptoms might be more severe for someone with asthma.” How often should you wash your reusable water bottle? “To minimise your risk of getting sick, you should ideally clean your water bottle after each use,” Grant says. “As a minimum, you should aim to wash it thoroughly at least a few times a week.” Hot water and washing up liquid are all you need to banish bacteria on the daily. “Fill the bottle with hot soapy mixture and swill around, or leave to soak in a detergent mixture,” Hussain advises. “Remember to pay special attention to lids/caps and screw top regions – use a clean brush [to scrub them].” If you’ve neglected your bottle for a few days and it needs a deeper clean, Grant suggests: “Soak your bottle overnight in a solution of half vinegar and half water. Rinse the bottle and let it dry fully before using it again.” Storage is also important to help minimise nasty microbes. “Where possible, you should keep your water bottle out of germ-rich environments such as your gym locker or sports bag,” Grant says. “You should also avoid filling your bottle with anything other than water, such as protein shakes, energy drinks, or sugar-rich liquids, as sugar can stimulate the growth of bacteria.” Hussain adds: “Don’t leave water bottle in the sun for long periods of time or siting in the cup holder in the car – the mixture of warmth and moisture is likely to make bacterial overgrowth worse.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Prince George visits Eton with parents Prince William and Kate Middleton King Charles and Queen Camilla ecstatic after getting their first Royal Ascot winner As Elon Musk calls cis ‘a slur’ – what does the term cisgender actually mean?

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