COVID-19 demonstrated the need for UK Voters for a well-funded and robust NHS, and fee voters would object more to the NHS to cut current wait lists.
However, this investment must simultaneously create greater efficiencies, and SmarterUK believes that the below deployment of AI technology would increase efficiency.
24/7 AI Doctors Receptionist
More local doctors’ practices operate a ridiculous system where patients are unable to pre-book appointments and have to ring up at 8 am to join a queue to be allocated an appointment on a first come, first served basis with no “Triage” with regards to the nature of the appointment or whether the matter could be dealt with via a Zoom call rather than a physical appointment.
The real Steve Endacott has invested in cutting-edge technology called “Neural Voice,” which powers the AI STEVE. This same technology could answer 10,000 simultaneous conversations with patients and triage their requirements before summarising them so that the doctor knows in advance why the patient is coming to the surgery ahead of their appointment.
Create a “Patient illness Passport”.
Each NHS patient’s client records are now stored online. If the AI Doctors receptionist was given access to these, they could use the patient’s past medical records to contextualise the patient’s current issue. For example, a patient suffering from asthma who requires periodic treatment with Steroids will, by default, be offered Steroids again, making an appointment that could be done via Zoom.
Doctors must start every consultation from scratch, as often another doctor has seen the patient last. These “Illness Passports” would significantly improve efficacy.
Use of Video conferencing technology.
Although many initial appointments with specialists require physical review and testing, most follow-up appointments could be handled via Zoom, etc., yet the NHS has failed to deploy this technology at all.
AI Stock management systems.
Hospitals require millions of pounds of stock items such as PPE and medical equipment. However, these stocks are all held on a decentralised basis, tying up millions of taxpayers’ money when a more efficient AI analysis would allow this stock to be utilised more effectively.
