NHS hospitals are utilizing artificial intelligence to forecast peak busy periods in A&Es during winter.
This AI tool, already in use by 50 NHS facilities, predicts the influx of emergency care seekers on a daily basis. Government officials stated that this technology aids in identifying potential congestion points, leading to reduced waiting times for patients during high-demand periods.
By analyzing historical data, which includes Met Office weather patterns, the AI tool estimates A&E visitation numbers. Liz Kendall, the Technology Secretary, emphasized the positive impact of AI on healthcare, mentioning its role in accelerating diagnoses and enabling novel treatments. She highlighted the significance of this AI forecasting tool in enhancing patient care efficiency and supporting NHS staff, particularly during peak seasons.
Minister for Digital Government and Data, Ian Murray, highlighted the uncertainty surrounding A&E footfall predictions and praised the tool’s ability to provide estimates, especially during unpredictable periods like weekends and seasonal fluctuations.
This initiative follows a challenging phase for the healthcare sector amidst a surge in flu cases during the festive season. Recent data on Christmas eve indicated a decline in flu-related hospital admissions for the first time this winter, although health experts cautioned about a potential resurgence in the New Year.
Dr. Jamie Lopez-Bernal, a UKHSA consultant epidemiologist, expressed concerns about the unpredictable nature of flu outbreaks and advised those still unvaccinated to seek immunization promptly to avoid severe illness and hospitalization.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.