AXREM launches imaging IT Manifesto at the home of code breaking
On 2nd April, almost 100 AXREM members and key external stakeholders gathered at Bletchley Park Museum for the launch of the AXREM Imaging IT Manifesto: Here to Enhance Patient Care and Improve Outcomes.
AXREM, the Association for Healthcare Technology Providers for Imaging, Radiotherapy and Care, has released its latest manifesto, Here to Enhance Patient Care and Improve Outcomes, at a specially convened event hosted at Bletchley Park. AXREM is the trade association representing the suppliers of diagnostic medical imaging, radiotherapy, healthcare IT and care equipment in the UK.
Bletchley Park was the headquarters of the British Military Intelligence Government Code and Cipher School during World War II. The estate employed 12,000 code breakers and staff. Bletchley Park was where Alan Turing and other agents of the Ultra intelligence project decoded the enemy’s secret messages, most notably those that had been encrypted with the German Enigma and Tunny cipher machines.
The event and venue were supported by headline sponsors Medihive, Sectra and Soliton IT and our other event sponsors Barco and Magentus.
The event kicked off in the Fellowship Auditorium with an opening address by AXREM Chief Executive Office, Sally Edgington, who told the audience: “I am sure you will agree in the world of healthcare, imagination is a powerful tool. It fuels innovation, creativity, and the breakthroughs that transform lives. Every medical advancement we’ve seen and every life-saving treatment, every new technology, every improvement in care began with someone imagining what could be. From the discovery of penicillin to the invention of imaging technologies that AXREM members provide today, that allow us to see inside the body, it all began simply by imagining.
“Imagine a world where communication was entirely encrypted, hidden behind layers of codes and puzzles, making it impossible for anyone to understand the information unless they had the key. For centuries, such encryption kept secrets safe, but it also prevented progress. It was only when brilliant minds like those who broke the Enigma code during World War II decided to challenge the impossible, to unravel the mysteries hidden within the most complex puzzles, that the world began to change. And from that pivotal moment, we saw the birth of a revolution that would eventually shape the future of information technology, transforming every aspect of our lives including healthcare.
“Code-breaking, at its core, is about unlocking potential—breaking down barriers that prevent us from accessing the full power of knowledge. In the field of healthcare, code-breaking represents the key to unlocking new possibilities for how we diagnose, understand, treat, and prevent diseases. It symbolises the ongoing evolution of data, communication, and technology, where each innovation leads to new ways of using information to save lives and improve our well-being.”
The event welcomed Bletchley Park historian Dr Thomas Cheetham who spoke about the history of codebreaking at Bletchley Park and how it is related to modern day cyber security.
David Lawson, Director of MedTech at the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) spoke about getting the basics right to support the adoption of new technologies and discussed some of what DHSC is doing to support this. Richard Evans, Chief Executive of the Society and College of Radiographers spoke about the importance of industry collaboration and the College of Radiographers Industry Partnerships Scheme (CoRIPS). Gareth Lambe, Medihive CEO, spoke about the work of Medihive, while Chris Scarisbrick, Customer Operations Director & Deputy Managing Director UK&I, spoke about Sectra’s work with medical technology and encrypted communication systems.
The focus of the event, however, was on the launch of AXREM’s Imaging IT Manifesto. AXREM Imaging IT Convenor and Chief Commercial Officer at Soliton IT, Bob Childe spoke about the manifesto in detail and concluded with the manifestos calls to action. Bob ended his speech by advising attendees, that AXREM members are our strength, and he hopes that key external stakeholders will call upon AXREM member expertise to assist in addressing many of the things in the manifesto.
