NHS Trials Innovative AI Tool to Speed Up Hospital Discharges and Reduce Waiting Times
The NHS is piloting a groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) tool at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust, designed to accelerate hospital discharges, reduce paperwork, and free up doctors to focus on patient care. This initiative forms part of the UK government’s wider plan to modernise public services through cutting-edge technology.
The AI platform automates the creation of discharge summaries by extracting key information from patients’ medical records, including diagnoses, test results, and treatment history. Traditionally, doctors manually complete these documents before a patient can leave hospital, a process that can cause delays when staff are under pressure. By streamlining this workflow, the AI tool promises to significantly reduce waiting times, helping patients return home faster while freeing up vital hospital beds.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “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. 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.”
Hosted on the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP), the system allows healthcare professionals to review AI-generated summaries before sending patients home or referring them to follow-up care. The FDP also facilitates collaboration across health and care organisations, ensuring better services and safer outcomes for patients.
The AI pilot at Chelsea and Westminster is part of a broader adoption of AI across the NHS. Technology is being used to predict patient risks, improve physiotherapy services, and provide early warnings of potential safety issues. For example, the first NHS AI-run physiotherapy clinic halved waiting lists for back pain and musculoskeletal services in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, allowing over 2,500 patients to access care in just 12 weeks.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle commented: “AI is giving doctors, probation officers, and other key workers more time to focus on delivering better outcomes and speeding up vital services. These AI exemplars demonstrate the best ways in which technology is building a smarter, more efficient state, improving patient care while reducing bureaucratic delays.”
The UK government has emphasised that AI adoption across public services, including the NHS, is central to transforming the delivery of healthcare. The initiative is expected to unlock substantial productivity gains, reduce hospital backlogs, and contribute to a digital NHS that is fit for the future.
By embracing AI, the NHS is not only improving efficiency but also ensuring that patients benefit from quicker, safer, and more effective care. This pilot marks a significant step in the NHS’s journey towards a fully digital healthcare system that prioritises both staff and patient experience.
