The Healthtech Podcast #429 How Microsoft is Powering the AI Era in Healthcare: Jacob West from Microsoft UK
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Jan 14, 2026 Jacob West, Managing Director for Healthcare and Life Sciences at Microsoft UK, shares his extensive background in health policy and his mission to integrate AI in the UK healthcare system. He discusses Microsoft's pivotal role in enhancing security through AI solutions and data platforms. Jacob highlights the successful deployment of Microsoft 365 in the NHS, revealing productivity boosts for knowledge workers. He also addresses the importance of responsible AI practices and invites healthtech startups to collaborate with Microsoft for innovative solutions.
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Career Path From Policy To Microsoft
- Jacob West describes his career from Whitehall policy work to hospital exec and board roles before joining Microsoft UK.
- He links that path to a tech project with the British Heart Foundation which led to his Microsoft role.
Three Pillars Of Microsoft's Healthcare Strategy
- Microsoft frames its healthcare work across three pillars: AI solutions, cloud/data/AI platforms, and security.
- That stack underpins both frontline tools (Teams, Copilot) and national NHS infrastructure.
Security Is Central, Not An Afterthought
- Healthcare is a top target for cyberattacks, making security a core priority for AI and cloud rollouts.
- Microsoft uses AI itself (Security Copilot) to strengthen organisational security posture.