This week on CTRL + Care, Michelle and Katie unpack a troubling cyberattack on a UK nursery that saw children’s personal data stolen and parents targeted directly, and what it says about the changing “rules” of cybercrime. They explore the surge in mobile payments and the risks of leaving cash behind, Labour’s ambitious plan for an online NHS hospital by 2027, and the government’s latest move towards a national digital ID. Plus, there’s a vital consultation on the future health and care workforce you won’t want to miss. And for Cyber Squirrels, it’s pigeons, reinforcement learning, and how one bird-brained military project helped shape modern AI.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Control Plus Care

02:07 Children's Data Hack

07:13 The Rise of Mobile Payments

13:24 NHS Online Hospital Services

19:17 Digital ID Scheme and Its Implications

23:39 Consultation on Workforce Planning

24:40 Cyber Squirrel Segment: Pigeons and AI

Links:

• Children's names, pictures and addresses stolen in nursery hack - BBC News
• Half of UK adults now pay on mobile - data shows - BBC News
• New online NHS hospital service by 2027, PM to promise - BBC News
• New Digital ID to be rolled out
• 10 Year Workforce Plan - GOV.UK
• Cyber Squirrels – Pigeon Reinforcement training

This week on CTRL + Care, Michelle & Katie dig into a new report on automation in health and care, from robotic process automation to AI, and what it could really mean for productivity, safety, andstaff buy-in. They explore Camden Council’s bold experiment with AI-enabled participatory democracy, Liverpool City Region’s work on digital inclusion, and Ireland’s long-term data modelling for nursing home capacity. And for Cyber Squirrels, it’s Star Trek made real… live translation sunglasses that sound a lot like the Babel Fish.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Control Plus Care

02:30 The Impact of Automation in Healthcare

11:30 Participatory Democracy in Health and Social Care

16:59 Tackling Digital Poverty in Liverpool

20:41 Insights from Nursing Homes Ireland Conference

26:50 Cyber Squirrels: Innovations in Language Translation Technology

Links from this episode:Operation Automation report (Re:State)http://bit.ly/4mxMcKoCamden Council – Participatory Democracy in Health & Carehttp://bit.ly/46I5EOF and http://bit.ly/46Ey7EW

• What is participatory democracy: http://bit.ly/4nHpDUC

• Nursing Homes Ireland Insight Report: http://bit.ly/42Q2JCi

Liverpool City Region – Digital Inclusionhttp://bit.ly/4nOkie4Ireland – Long-term Care Projectionshttp://bit.ly/4gMLKqACyber Squirrels - Live Translation Glasseshttp://bit.ly/3VCQ9T5

This week on CTRL + Care, Katie & Michelle dig into a new NIHR-led report evaluating home sensor systems across three councils and what it shows: sense of safety for users & carers, richer insight for monitoring changing needs, but also limits around infrastructure, internet access and where the economic benefit really lands. They also unpack what “digital social care records interoperability” could look like, and why this foundational work matters as much as the new tech everyone gets excited about. For Cyber Squirrels, we have... bacteria in cement and energy-generating flooring... you'll have to listen to find out!Timeline:

00:00 Introduction to Digital Care Updates

01:57 Cybersecurity in Local Government

04:13 Home Sensors in Social Care

11:25 AI and Economic Predictions

16:01 Social Care Interoperability Platform

20:53 Cyber Squirrels - Innovative Energy Solutions

Links:

MHCLG Accenture and KPMG to support its new Local Government Cyber Response service

Home sensors in social care: findings from a mixed methods, rapid evaluation

AI could boost UK economy by 10% in 5 years, says Microsoft boss - BBC News

DHSC - ASC: Interoperability and Architecture platform - Discovery