Show Notes
This week on Pulse: Hot Topics, Louise and George cover a fortnight that captured the whole spectrum of digital health in 2026 — political turmoil at the top, consumer tech-led disruption from below, and an expert call for responsible AI delivery in the middle.
UK Health Secretary Resigns as Palantir Contract Unravels — Wes Streeting resigns; James Murray becomes the 9th UK Health Secretary in 8 years; the £330M NHS Federated Data Platform faces a break clause as workforce, MPs and unions revolt. Reports emerge of Palantir staff being granted "unlimited access" to identifiable patient data, while the NHS Analysts Together collective launches an open letter calling for the contract to end.
The Wearable Category Just Split Three Ways — Google retires Fitbit, launches Google Health with a Gemini-powered AI Coach and the $99 Fitbit Air, cross-platform with Apple HealthKit. One day later, WHOOP launches live clinician video consultations and EHR integration via HealthEx, backed by Mayo Clinic and Abbott. Meanwhile Oura quietly acquires Galen AI to build a longitudinal health operating system. Three completely different theories of where value sits in wearable health. Responsible AI UK: The Delivery Playbook — A BMJ Digital Health editorial from RAi UK sets out four priorities for execution: infrastructure and open standards, problem-focused innovation, holistic evaluation, and workforce capability. Essentially the operating manual the new UK Health Secretary should be reading tonight.
Resources: Stryker Vocera's Initial Delays Diagnosis Quiz Link Responsible AI UK, BMJ Digital Health& AI Link Digital Health Workforce Census (opens 1 May, ANZ) Link
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