AI speeds up hospital discharges to free up NHS beds and cut waiting times

Government Launches AI Tool to Accelerate Hospital Discharges

Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust is trialling a new AI-assisted tool designed to identify patients ready for discharge, aiming to free up hospital beds more efficiently. This initiative is part of a wider government push to improve patient flow and reduce waiting times across NHS hospitals.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle highlighted the practical benefits: “AI is helping doctors, probation officers, and other key workers spend less time on paperwork and more time on delivering better outcomes and speeding up vital services.”

NHS Federated Data Platform Programme

The AI tool is integrated within the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) programme. It supports various hospital processes such as:

• Automatically spotting patients who are ready for discharge to free up beds sooner.
• Matching last-minute outpatient appointment slots with patients available to attend on short notice.
• Reducing administrative workload, allowing staff to focus on direct patient care.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the shift towards digital solutions: “This tool exemplifies how we’re moving from analogue to digital as part of our 10 Year Health Plan. It helps reduce hospital backlogs by getting patients home faster and freeing up beds for those who need them most.”

Supporting AI Integration in Healthcare

Rob Hendry, Medical Director and Chief Member Officer at the Medical Protection Society, noted the government’s clear commitment to expanding AI use in healthcare. He referenced the AI initiative as one of the three key shifts outlined in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan announced in July.

For healthcare professionals and government officials interested in exploring AI applications further, there are practical training resources available. Courses tailored to healthcare and public sector roles can be found at Complete AI Training.