Robot nurses, flying beds and healing potions

These are some of the ideas children came up with when we asked them what hospitals might look like in the future.

We have been out and about at Edinburgh Science Festival talking to families about how developments in technology, data and artificial intelligence may change healthcare in the future and asking their opinions about it.

We were at the Scottish Parliament family day on 6^th April where children drew these fantastic pictures and had to guess what was in our feely boxes. We talked to people about how devices such as health trackers and mobile phones are increasingly being used to gather information about our health, how healthcare professionals may use technology, and how we need to all work together to ensure  all of society can benefit.

Meanwhile Dr Sarah Chan from the Centre was discussing some of these issues at an event called Diagnosing with Data. She joined Prof. Nicholas Mills, University of Edinburgh Chair of Cardiology and Consultant Cardiologist, and Dr Angus Ferguson, University of Glasgow, Public Benefit and Privacy Panel for Health and Social Care.

'The most pressing question is when and how can we use health data to improve people's lives'

All the panel spoke about the need for community and public engagement about health data and this is something we are committed to here at the Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society.

We will be at the National Museum of Scotland on 19 and 20 April with colleagues from across the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine to talk to more people about their ideas and points of view, so do come along.