Al trial shows 'extraordinary potential' to transform NHS

HUMBER REGION TRUSTS TAKING PART IN TECHNOLOGY TRIAL

- By ANDREW SPENCE

TRUSTS in the Humber region have been involved in an NHS AI trial that is displaying how the use of the technology could help save time and money across the NHS.

The Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Haxby Group Hull have both been involved in the trial.

A pilot of Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft's Al-powered productivity tool, across 90 NHS organisations found that AI-powered administrative support could save NHS staff on average 43 minutes per staff member per day. Scaled up, the figure equates to five weeks of time being saved per person annually.

Results from the trial show that a full roll-out could save up to 400,000 hours of staff time per month, equating to "millions of hours every year", The Department of Health and Social Care said.

The aim of the introduction of AI into the health service is to reduce the administrative burden on staff, therefore freeing up valuable time that can be redirected towards patient care and clinical activities.