“Alexa, what do people think of Amazon doing a deal with the NHS?” 17 critical responses

The government has announced a deal between the NHS and Amazon, which would see its digital assistant, Alexa, begin diagnosing people’s symptoms using NHS-sanctioned information in a bid to take some of the burden off frontline health workers. The idea has caused concern from people considering the implications for data protection, as well as safety.

Today we’re making sure you get the best NHS advice if you ask Alexa – harnessing tech to empower people to take better control of their health https://t.co/Lw2TDzBqA2

— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) July 10, 2019

People have been talking about the move.

1.

I just asked Alexa where my appendix is.
She said, “Your appendix is in the lower right side of your abdomen.”

This is clearly wrong. My appendix is in a bin outside a hospital on the outskirts of Glasgow.

— rab livingstone (@rablivingstone) July 10, 2019

2.

Patient: "Alexa I think I'm having a heart attack."

Alexa: "Calling Neil Buchanan."

(I really hope this joke works, I was proud of it when I thought it up earlier). https://t.co/8AWmfryCRm

— Sam Joyson-Cardy 🤖 (@sjjc16) July 10, 2019

3.

Alexa:
Why are tories allowing Amazon to profit from the NHS?
Why aren't they forcing them to pay their fair share of the taxes that should be funding frontline services?
Why are they letting such a voraciously profit-thirsty firm have access to tons of valuable NHS patient data?

— will thorpe (@withorpe) July 10, 2019

4.

Amazon don’t pay taxes; kept Scottish workers living in tents; spy on us; and now we’ve wasted NHS resource on a privacy-violating deal that couldve been spent on actual frontline NHS staff w/o even getting paid by Amazon for the privilege. And this party thinks it can negotiate? https://t.co/7EWNjMNGpp

— Coco Khan (@cocobyname) July 10, 2019

5.

Just farted so hard Alexa called an ambulance.

— Mr Roger Quimbly (@RogerQuimbly) July 10, 2019

6.

Last night, at 1am, I asked Alexa to turn the outside light off and it started playing Magic FM.

So thrilled to see it taking a more active role in the nation’s health. https://t.co/CAz0dwhnAn

— Tom Peck (@tompeck) July 10, 2019

7.

Hancock: “Alexa, I have bullshit coming out of my mouth. What is the diagnosis?”

Alexa: “You’re a Tory.” https://t.co/AcqIVQWrfC

— Damon Evans (@damocrat) July 10, 2019

8.

Alexa, what's this insensitive lump?

That's the Health Secretary. https://t.co/6Fqci3xL6B

— Stephen Q Bunwackett Buzzardstubble & Boot #FBPE (@ISayPorter) July 10, 2019

9.

Alexa, why do my consultant appointments keep getting rescheduled amidst a Tory-engineered NHS funding crisis https://t.co/UxYYb0VUXn

— Dawn Foster (@DawnHFoster) July 10, 2019