The NHS is piloting AI to cut doctors’ administrative tasks, speed up discharges, and improve patient care across hospitals
The NHS is increasingly exploring the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform the way doctors work. As part of the UK Government’s Plan For Change, the NHS will benefit from cutting-edge technology that reduces time spent on routine discharge paperwork, a process that often keeps patients unnecessarily in hospital.
Cutting waitlists and improving patient care
The new AI-assisted tool is currently being developed at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust. It will help doctors draft discharge documents faster by extracting key details from medical records, such as diagnoses and test results, using a large language model. Then, after a full review from a medical expert responsible for the patient, the documents are used to discharge the patient from a hospital ward.
The AI tool would significantly improve the existing outdated system that often leaves patients on wards for hours, waiting for time-constrained doctors to fill out the relevant forms before they can go home. By automating these administrative tasks, the AI tool will not only reduce the waiting time for patients but also alleviate the administrative burden on doctors, providing a sense of relief about the potential workload reduction for healthcare professionals.
Speaking on a visit to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “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.
This government inherited a public sector decimated by years of under-investment and is crying out for reform. These AI Exemplars show the best ways in which we’re using tech to build a smarter, more efficient state.
When we get this right across government, we’re talking about unlocking £45 billion in productivity gains – delivering our Plan for Change and investing in growth, not bureaucracy.
Health and Social Care 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.
We’re using cutting-edge technology to build an NHS fit for the future and tackle the hospital backlogs that have left too many people waiting too long.
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.”
Responding to the announcement by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology that AI is being piloted to help patients out of hospital quicker and free up NHS staff’s time, Matthew Taylor, chief executive at the NHS Confederation, said: “We welcome this announcement which shows how AI can boost efficiency and help NHS staff discharge patients quickly.
“When rolled out effectively, AI has great potential to improve NHS productivity by helping to reduce waiting lists.
“It is positive that through this pilot project, the AI-assisted tool will reduce the administrative burden on doctors and capture critical information by helping them draft discharge documents faster.
“But for AI tools to work well, sufficient time is needed to obtain consent and verify accuracy as the health worker remains responsible for both the precision of the information and patient confidentiality. This will ensure high-quality documents are produced and patient trust is maintained.”
AI set to streamline the justice system
A similar AI tool will be deployed in the ‘Justice Transcribe’ project, which will assist Probation Officers in transcribing and taking notes in their meetings with offenders after they leave prison. The technology, which was found to halve the time officers spent organising notes between meetings and in their personal time, is set to be scaled to all 12,000 probation officers following the pilot phase outcome, showcasing the potential of AI in the justice system.
