The NHS’s direction remains clear, with a renewed emphasis on “making the fullest possible use of technology, digitisation and AI”.
This was the message from the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, The Rt Hon James Murray MP, at NHS ConfedExpo, the UK’s leading health and care conference.
It also reflected the wider conversation at this year’s event: how do we build on last year’s discussions about neighbourhood health and make better use of new technologies to go further and faster in delivering the 10-Year Health Plan?
Refreshingly, many of the discussions I heard were less about AI and digital technology itself, and more about the difference it can make for people and patients.
People power
Every day, people make decisions about whether to seek help, engage with care and treatment, take medication, attend appointments and adopt healthier behaviours. The Health Foundation estimates that the NHS contributes only 10-20% to our health and wellbeing.
If we can help people make more informed decisions and take greater control of their health, there is a significant opportunity to improve both patient outcomes and NHS productivity.
In his conference speech, NHS England Chief Executive Sir Jim Mackey spoke about the need to “change how our patients work”. That is exactly what our AI for Urgent and Emergency Care Prevention Programme aims to do, offering a glimpse into the future of healthcare.
The AI for Urgent and Emergency Care Prevention Programme
In north east London, we are using AI to identify people who may be at risk of needing urgent or emergency care, helping prevent potential hospital admissions before they happen. But the real value lies in the personalised coaching that follows.
Coaches help people understand their health better, feel more confident, find the right services and manage their conditions day to day.
Rather than simply being told what to do, people are empowered to take greater control of their health and stay well. This came through strongly when our patient advocate Jatinda Kandola joined us at the conference to share these insights alongside programme partners UCLPartners and Health Navigator.
By reaching people before they reach crisis point, the programme is shifting our care model towards prevention and self-management. It is helping people stay independent while making better use of NHS services for those who need them most.
Rolling the programme out across north east London
Impact data from the programme is promising. We are on track to support more than 9,000 patients by March 2027 and, if current results continue, the programme could save between 200 and 300 hospital bed days across north east London!
Almost three quarters of people invited to join the programme accept support and go on to engage with the coaching service. We recently switched to an NHS-branded telephone number for outbound calls, reducing unanswered calls from 28 per cent to 14 per cent and helping us reach even more people.
The NHS’s greatest assets are the patients we look after and the communities we serve. This approach helps us make better use of that strength while delivering the 10-Year Health Plan and turning the government’s three big shifts in healthcare into a reality.
Watch how Phillip is benefitting from the programme
Adam Croom, Communications Lead – NHS North East London
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