'Alexa, how do I treat a migraine?': NHS partners with Amazon

The NHS has partnered with Amazon Alexa, using its voice-assisted technology to make its site more accessible, enabling patients to ask questions such as ‘Alexa how do I treat a migraine?’ and ‘Alexa What are the symptoms of flu?’.

It is hoped the new service will help patients, especially blind people, older people and those who can’t access the internet through conventional means, to get the information they need in a more accessible way.

NHSX was launched this month as part of the NHS Long Term Plan commitment to make more NHS services available digitally.

It is designed to reduce pressure on the NHS and GPs by providing information for common illnesses.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "We want to empower every patient to take better control of their healthcare and technology like this is a great example of how people can access reliable, world-leading NHS advice from the comfort of their home, reducing the pressure on our hardworking GPs and pharmacists.

"Through the NHS Long Term Plan, we want to embrace the advances in technology to build a health and care system that is fit for the future and NHSX will drive this revolution to bring the benefits to every patient, clinician and carer."

'Giant data monopolies want our NHS data'

Adi Latif from Camden, London, is registered blind and likes to use Amazon Alexa and other voice-assisted technology for everyday tasks such as emailing, news updates and ordering a taxi.

The thirty-eight-year-old is a consultant at AbiltyNet, a charity which helps people with disabilities use innovations to make their lives easier. He welcomes the move by the NHS to make some of their services more accessible, especially for blind and partially sighted customers.

“Convenience is king and it’s brilliant to know I can ask Alexa about various illness and receive credible, NHS-verified information.

“It cuts out all the searching online, which can be a traumatic experience for many people - especially those who are disabled or not familiar with technology. Smart speakers such as Alexa are no doubt high tech, but they are designed in a way which allows you to have a conversation with them making them less daunting to use.

“NHS services need to be designed in a way that allows all people, including those who are blind or disabled, access them easily from the convenience of their own home,” he said.

Not everyone, however, thinks the partnership is a healthy move and some commentators have suggested that the joint venture is a way for more and more patient data to be shared with Government and giant tech companies.

The deputy leader of the Labour Party, Tom Watson said on Twitter: "The giant data monopolies want one thing: more and more data to drive their huge profits. Entrusting Amazon's Alexa to dispense health advice to patients simply opens the door to the holy grail - our NHS data. This is the beginning of a Mission Creep."

‘Citizen’ healthcare tools

BY 2020 it is expected that half of all online searches will be via voice-assisted technology.

Matthew Gould, chief executive of NHSX, said: “The public need to be able to get reliable information about their health easily and in ways they actually use. By working closely with Amazon and other tech companies, big and small, we can ensure that the millions of users looking for health information every day can get simple, validated advice at the touch of a button or voice command.

"Part of our mission at NHSX is to give citizens the tools to access services and information directly, and partnerships such as this are an important part of achieving this."

Ben Moody, head of health and social care at TechUK, added: “Technology is revolutionising the way we access healthcare information and services, but it’s important that we don’t leave a large proportion of society behind. This development will help to ensure that some of the people most in need of verified health information are able to access it.”