Digital Health Podcast- Royal Society of Medicine

Vibe coding is making it easier than ever for non-technical people to build software- but healthcare comes with unique risks and responsibilities. This episode is a practical guide to using AI-powered development tools safely in clinical settings. We explore medical device regulation, GDPR, patient safety, and the common pitfalls those working in healthcare need to avoid, alongside real-world exam...

What happens when the timescales of rigorous evidence are fundamentally incompatible with the speed of health technology? In this episode, we're joined by Paul Wicks-research neuropsychologist, former BMJ editorial board member, and independent evidence strategist- to explore one of health tech's most pressing unsolved problems. We discuss why the traditional publishing system is struggling to kee...

In this episode, Annabelle is joined by Deb Cohen, author of Bad Influence , to explore how social media has become a major source of health information and how it is reshaping the way medical ideas, diagnoses, and treatments are promoted and consumed. We discuss the rise of the health influencer, the booming online market for health and wellness products, and why persuasive storytelling often out...

In this episode, we explore what informed consent actually looks like when AI is involved in patient care. Annabelle is joined by Anthony Searle a barrister specialising in medical law, and together they unpack how UK consent law is created, how it applies to a world of clinical decision support, autonomous algorithms, AI scribes, and black-box models. They discuss when AI may change the risk prof...

Cybersecurity in healthcare is not just an IT concern—it’s a clinical risk. As systems, data, and devices become increasingly connected, vulnerabilities can directly impact patient safety, from disrupted hospital operations to compromised data and malfunctioning medical devices. In this episode, Florence shares insights from her unique background across aerospace, cybersecurity, and healthcare, an...

What does it really take for the NHS to become a better partner for healthtech? In this episode, Annabelle is joined by Liam, to unpack why so many innovations struggle to move from pilot to practice. Drawing on insights from his recent workshop with the NHS Innovation Accelerator. Full NIA report can be accessed here

Annabelle speaks with physician-scientist and Google research lead Dr. Jake Sunshine about bringing loss-of-pulse detection from research concept to a regulated feature on consumer wearables. Jake shares the journey from early laboratory experiments to real-world deployment, and how his team designed an evidence strategy where no clear playbook existed—combining simulation, opportunistic clinical...

In this episode, we explore the emerging phenomenon of AI-induced psychosis and the hidden risks of conversational AI. Dr Josh Au Yeung joins Annabelle to discuss how large language models — designed to engage and please — can unintentionally reinforce harmful beliefs, especially for vulnerable users. We dive into the technical reasons behind this, the societal implications, and the importance of...

YouTube is now one of the most influential sources of health information in the UK. In this RSM Podcast episode, Annabelle speaks with Vishaal Virani, a clinician leading YouTube’s UK health strategy, about how the platform approaches medical accuracy, tackles misinformation, and elevates trusted sources like the NHS. We explore how algorithms shape visibility, Youtube's “health shelves” and what...

As AI in healthcare becomes more autonomous, the question of who is legally responsible when it makes mistakes becomes urgent. In this episode, Annabelle speaks with Majid Hassan to explore the liability gap in the UK and the practical steps organizations and developers can take to protect themselves. Topics covered include: The difference between clinical negligence and product liability Why full...

Autonomous AI is often described as a red line in healthcare — something that should only ever assist clinicians, never act independently. But is that really where we are today? This is the first episode in a series examining autonomous AI. Annabelle is joined by regulatory expert Dr Hugh Harvey to explore the foundations of autonomous AI in healthcare. Together, they unpack what autonomy actually...

In this episode, we explore a startling reality: many NHS digital tools lack the mandatory clinical safety assurance required by law. Hosts Annabelle and guests Adrian and Youssof unpack this origins of clinical safety standards, why compliance has been so patchy, the myths and challenges around clinical safety, and what needs to change to protect patients as technology — and AI — scale across the...

Digital twins in healthcare are catalysing one of the most profound shifts in how we understand, predict and manage human health. In this conversation with Roger Highfield OBE and Prof Peter Coveney , co-authors of Virtual You , we explored the trajectory of digital twins, their technological foundations, and the hurdles that still stand between today’s partial implementations and tomorrow’s fully...

In this episode Mark Jenkins, co-founder or Tech-Enabled Care providers Oviva and Paloma Health, discusses: - What Tech-Enabled providers are and how the differ from conventional care services - Why some providers are succeeding whilst others have failed - How you measure and ensure quality of new providers - How commissioning needs to change to capture the best value for patients

AI agents in healthcare—promise or peril? In this episode of the RSM Digital Health Podcast , Annabelle Painter speaks with Dr. Keith Grimes about the rise of agentic AI—systems that can reason, plan, and act autonomously. The conversation explores early healthcare use cases and potential future applicaitons, clinical and safety risks, regulatory challenges, and how to get started experimenting wi...

This episode features a conversation with Pam Garside -chair of Cambridge Angels - a network of UK business angels Discussion topics include: - How to approach and impress angel investors - How to become an angel investor - Pam’s top tips and lessons learned from her angel investing experience - Healthtech market insights and trends

This episode features a conversation with Dr Minal Bakhai - National Director for Primary Care and Community Transformation and Improvement at NHS England. She discusses how technology is enabling system change in General Practice through the Modern General Practice model. Drawing on her experience of product development, user research and design from working with the digital health industry she s...

Who will be held to account legally for harm caused by AI use in Healthcare? This episode delves into this knotty question with Majid Hassan- a solicitor and parter at Capsticks LLP specialising in Healthcare litigation. The conversation covers: - Key legal concepts such as negligence and and product liability - How the litigation process would take place practically - Why you could be more at ris...

In this episode focusses on the future of regulatory approvals for AI software medical devices in the UK (and EU). Featuring guest James Dewar- Co-founder of Scarlet a EU Notified body and UK approved body that specialises in certifying software medical devices.  Key discussion topics: The current regulatory position of the UK post-Brexit and the opportunities that this could present The practical...

In this episode Prof Pearse Keane- Consultant Ophthalmologist at Moorfields and Professor of Artificial Medical Intelligence at University College London discusses AI in Ophthalmology. Conversation topics include: The story of the Moorfields- Google Deep Mind collaboration and the use of AI to detect retinal diseases The birth of 'oculomics' as a field: Using the eye as a window to the rest of the...

In this LIVE recording of the RSM Digital health podcast from the HETT conference guests Darrien Bold and Dr George Harston discuss the key enablers that supported AI for stroke to be deployed in 100% of NHS stroke units in England Discussion topics include:  The power of top down focus on specific areas of unmet need Efficiencies gained from centralising due diligence and governance processes Res...

This episode features a conversation with Dr Dillon Obika- Senior Clinical Specialist at Google about MedLM: Google's family of medical foundation models. Conversation topics include: - Why and how Google have been developing medical foundation models - How MedLM is currently being used in clinical practice - The challenge of evaluating model performance for clinical tasks - How Google are tacklin...

This episode features a conversation with Malte Gerhold- Director of Innovation and Improvement at the Health foundation. It discusses Implementation Insights from the research and policy undertaken by the Health Foundation on Health technology and AI. Discussion areas include: - Why we need to focus on funding change rather than the technology - The public discussions that are needed about trade-...

In this episode Dr Kath Halliday- President of the Royal College of Radiologists discusses how AI is impacting radiology. Discussion points include: - The AI technologies that are being used in NHS radiology derpatments - Challenges faced with deploying AI in the NHS - How AI is likely to change the nature of radiologists' work - The use of autonomous AI in radiology Links from the Royal Colle...

This special edition of the RSM digital health podcast is a joint episode with the hosts of the Dev & Doc podcast focussed on Explainable AI in healthcare. Key discussion topics: - The confusion around what explainable AI is - The question of whether it is really necessary in healthcare - Exploring different explainability techniques - The future of explainability and what’s needed to get ther...