The NHS will utilise a ‘world first’ AI warning system to identify potential patient safety risks and address them before they escalate.
The system, which is being developed as part of the government's 10 Year Health Plan, will rapidly analyse routine hospital data and reports submitted by healthcare staff from community settings and will then flag-up any safety concerns.
Health secretary Wes Streeting stressed that embracing technology will transform the NHS which has come under criticism for failures to protect patients in areas such mental health and maternity services.
The government announced last week there would be a national investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal services to provide ‘truth and accountability for impacted families and drive urgent improvements to care and safety’.
“By embracing AI and introducing world-first early warning systems, we’ll spot dangerous signs sooner and launch rapid inspections before harm occurs,” said Streeting.
“This technology will save lives - catching unsafe care before it becomes a tragedy. It’s a vital part of our commitment to move the NHS from analogue to digital, delivering better, safer care for everyone.”
In November, NHS trusts will implement a new Maternity Outcomes Signal System which will use near real-time data to flag higher than expected rates of stillbirth, neonatal death and brain injury.
They system will have the capability to analyse hospital databases to identify patterns of abuse, serious injuries, deaths, or other incidents that can slip through the net, cause harm and stop hospitals from running safely.
Professor Meghana Pandit, co-national medical director – Secondary Care, believes the new system will ‘turbo-charge the speed and efficiency’ in identifying and responding to patient safety concerns and improve patient care.
Where concerns are raised, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will deploy specialist inspection teams as soon as possible to investigate and take swift action.
“While most treatments in the NHS are safe, even a single lapse that puts a patient at risk is one too many. Behind every safety breach is a person - a life altered, a family devastated, sometimes by heart-breaking loss,” said Streeting.
The new system will be built on the NHS Federated Data Platform, which allows healthcare staff to securely access the information they need in one place.
“This will mean less paperwork and manual inspections for staff, and more time caring for patients,” said Streeting.
