Google given access to healthcare data of up to 1.6 million patients

Artificial intelligence firm DeepMind provided with patient information as part of agreement with Royal Free NHS trust

A company owned by Google has been given access to the healthcare data of up to 1.6 million patients from three hospitals run by a major London NHS trust.

DeepMind, the tech giant's London-based company most famous for its innovative use of artificial intelligence, is being provided with the patient information as part of an agreement with the Royal Free NHS trust, which runs the Barnet, Chase Farm and Royal Free hospitals.