AI-Powered Virtual Humans: A New Digital Frontier in NHS Care
A £500,000 collaboration between researchers at the University of Kent and NHS professionals is set to enhance healthcare services across the South-East region through AI-powered ‘virtual humans.’
The initiative, known as the Transform-VHT project, aims to alleviate pressure on NHS staff by integrating Virtual Human Technology (VHT)—AI-driven digital characters—into general and mental healthcare settings.
These AI-powered assistants, designed to engage in natural conversations, will provide answers to common questions, deliver health information, assist with routine care tasks, and contribute to making NHS services more accessible, efficient, and inclusive.
Addressing Healthcare Inequality in Rural and Coastal Communities
A central focus of the project is improving healthcare access for rural and coastal communities, where services are often limited and health inequalities are more pronounced.
By working collaboratively with clinicians and patients, researchers aim to co-design AI-powered tools that address the specific challenges of these underserved populations, ensuring equitable access to care.
Supported by the UKRI EPSRC Health Technologies Connectivity Award, the project brings together experts from multiple academic schools at the University of Kent.
The team is partnering with Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) to deliver this ambitious initiative.
Ethical AI in Healthcare: Balancing Innovation with Responsibility
The University of Kent has a track record of integrating AI into healthcare ethically and responsibly. In 2024, its School of Computing co-developed MindTalker, an AI tool designed to enhance support for individuals with early-stage dementia.
Through personalised interactions, MindTalker provides emotional support, cognitive stimulation, and meaningful conversations, helping to combat isolation, a common challenge for those affected by dementia.
The ethical implementation of AI in healthcare ensures that human dignity, data privacy, and patient autonomy remain central to technological advancements.
As AI-driven healthcare tools become more prevalent, maintaining transparency, accountability, and fairness in their deployment will be key to building trust between patients, clinicians, and AI systems.
With Transform-VHT, AI is being designed not to replace human care but to augment and enhance NHS services, ensuring equitable access, ethical decision-making, and patient-centric solutions that prioritise the well-being of communities in need.
