AI Technology Aims to Alleviate NHS Bed Blockage
Officials have revealed that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being trialed as a means to expedite the discharge process for patients at NHS hospitals, particularly for those who are medically fit to return home.
Currently under examination by the Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust, this innovative platform leverages AI to streamline the documentation necessary for discharging patients, potentially saving invaluable hours that are often lost to bureaucratic delays.
The tool meticulously extracts essential data—such as diagnoses and test results—from existing medical records, thereby assisting healthcare personnel in drafting discharge summaries. These summaries are a prerequisite for facilitating a patient’s timely return home.
Once the document is prepared, it undergoes a review by designated healthcare professionals, who will then either discharge the patient or refer them to the requisite services.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting asserts that this technological advancement will significantly diminish the time physicians spend on paperwork, allowing them to devote more attention to direct patient care, consequently reducing waiting periods.
This system will operate via the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP), a collaborative software infrastructure aimed at enhancing cooperation among health and care organizations to deliver superior services.
Current manual protocols often result in prolonged waiting periods for patient discharges, as physicians may be unavailable to complete necessary forms, according to the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology.
Streeting remarked, “This potentially transformative discharge tool exemplifies our commitment to transitioning from analogue processes to digital solutions as part of our decade-long health plan.”
He added, “By harnessing cutting-edge technology, we are shaping an NHS that is well-equipped for the future and tackling the hospital backlogs that have plagued many patients.”
The platform is one initiative among numerous projects supported by Sir Keir Starmer, who indicated in January that AI would be instrumental in revitalizing the economy and public services.
In May, the government disclosed plans to deploy an AI tool aimed at gauging public opinion on various issues, projecting savings of approximately £20 million in staffing expenditures.
Additionally, it has been announced that technology capable of halving the time probation officers devote to organizing notes will be implemented nationwide within the year.
Source link: News.sky.com.
