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A new artificial intelligence (AI) platform is being tested across the NHS to speed up hospital discharges and free up beds. The system, piloted at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust, automatically compiles discharge documents by pulling details such as diagnoses and test results from patient records. These summaries, which are required before patients can leave hospital, are then reviewed by doctors or nurses before patients are sent home or referred to other services. Officials say this could save hours of delays that often keep patients waiting unnecessarily.
The platform is hosted on the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP), a shared digital infrastructure designed to improve collaboration between healthcare providers. By automating one of the most time-consuming administrative tasks, the government hopes to cut waiting times and reduce pressure on hospitals. Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the tool as “potentially transformational,” saying it will allow doctors to spend more time with patients instead of being tied up with paperwork.
The discharge AI is part of a broader government strategy to integrate advanced technologies into public services. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to harness AI to revitalise the economy and improve efficiency across healthcare and other sectors. For example, probation officers will soon gain access to an AI system that halves the time needed to take and organise meeting notes, further showcasing how automation can streamline key services.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle emphasised that these tools represent a new approach to modernising the public sector after years of underinvestment. He noted that, if deployed effectively, AI could unlock an estimated £45 billion in productivity gains. The government sees these pilots as models for how digital innovation can support frontline staff, ease bottlenecks, and ultimately deliver faster and better outcomes for patients and communities alike.
