How Is the NHS Using AI to Ease Hospital Discharge Backlogs?

For years, the UK's National Health Service (NHS) faces challenges in meeting growing demands.

The rising and ageing population in Britain results in extended waiting times for doctor's appointments and increased delays in hospitals.

These demands, both internal and external, lead the NHS to investigate if AI could enhance service efficiency, especially in expediting patient discharges.

The Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust in London adopts a trial AI platform aimed at speeding up patient turnover.

This system extracts vital information, like diagnoses and test results, from medical records to automatically generate discharge documentation.

Healthcare workers then review these AI-crafted summaries before patients leave or are referred to further services.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has described the technology as something that could potentially change the fortunes of the NHS going forward.

"This potentially transformational discharge tool is a prime example of how we're shifting from analogue to digital as part of our 10-year health plan," he says.

Addressing NHS bureaucracy with AI

Currently, the manual discharge process creates delays, often making patients wait for hours while doctors complete paperwork.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology points out that busy medical staff frequently juggle prioritising paperwork against patient care.

"Doctors will spend less time on paperwork and more time with patients, getting people home to their families faster and freeing up beds for those who need them most," Wes explains.

This AI platform operates on the NHS Federated Data Platform, a software system aimed at enhancing collaboration amongst health and care entities.

AI's role in public sector services

This discharge tool aligns with a broader government strategy to incorporate AI into public services.

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, proclaims in January that AI forms a critical part of revitalising the British economy and public services.

By the end of the year, similar AI technology will be launched in the probation service, planned to halve the time officers spend preparing case notes.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle visited Chelsea and Westminster hospital to observe the AI system in operation.

"This is exactly the kind of change we need, AI being used to give doctors, probation officers and other key workers more time to focus on delivering better outcomes and speeding up vital services," he said of the initiative.

The NHS's future with AI innovations

Several other AI initiatives are being tested within NHS services.

An AI-enabled physiotherapy app called Flok Health reduced waiting times for back pain services by 50% during a 12-week trial in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Over 2,500 patients used the service during the pilot launched in February.

AI systems are also analysing hospital databases for potential safety concerns and triggering early intervention investigations.

Furthermore, the NHS is testing an AI tool that assesses patient disease risks and mortality rates, described as having 'superhuman' capabilities.

Peter Kyle envisions the financial benefits of integrating AI across government sectors to be substantial.

"When we get this right across government, we're talking about unlocking US$45bn in productivity gains, delivering our plan for change and investing in growth, not bureaucracy," he says.

Acknowledging the need for extensive reform following years of underinvestment, these trials highlight the government's ambition to create a "smarter, more efficient state" via technological progress.

The AI discharge tool pilot aims to deliver crucial insights into AI's capacity to alleviate administrative pressures while maintaining clinical safety standards.