The NHS is rolling out a range of AI tools that will help patients determine which service to use.
The NHS App will soon direct patients to a specific department, whether it be a GP, pharmacy, local A&E, or self-care at home. The aim is to eliminate the 8am scramble for GP appointments, ensuring those that need a doctor are seen sooner.
The AI triage tool has already been trialled at a GP practice in Sussex, where it led to a 29% reduction in the number of people queuing on the phone. The initial rollout will reach more than 200,000 patients within the next 12 months, and all NHS App users by April 2028. Patients will still have the option to contact their GP practice via phone call.
AI will also be adopted during patient consultations to record conversations. The real-time transcriptions generated could help to reduce the admin burden for NHS staff who would otherwise be taking notes.
The tool has already successfully been trialled in the A&E department at St George’s Hospital in London...