The National Health Service (NHS) is increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance patient care and reduce emergency hospital admissions. In the South West of England, GP practices are implementing the "Brave AI" system to proactively identify vulnerable patients at risk of hospitalisation. This initiative enables healthcare providers to offer earlier support, aiming to prevent health deteriorations that lead to emergency admissions.
Additionally, AI is being utilised to predict patients who may become frequent users of emergency services. By analysing extensive patient data, the system identifies individuals who would benefit from early interventions, thereby reducing the strain on Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments. This approach has already led to a significant decrease in frequent A&E attendances in various regions.
In the realm of elderly care, AI-powered technologies are being deployed to monitor residents' movements and detect unusual activities that could indicate health issues. For instance, systems like Ally Cares alert staff to potential problems, while applications such as PainChek use AI to identify pain in non-verbal residents by analysing facial expressions. These innovations aim to enhance safety and well-being in care homes.
Sources:
NHS England – "AI to help South West NHS spot people at risk of emergency admission" (Published: 5 December 2023)
NHS England – "NHS artificial intelligence (AI) giving patients better care and support" (Published: 5 December 2024)
The Times – "Inside the AI care home: the smart tech making old people safer" (Published: 5 December 2024)
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