GP practices across the South West will soon utilise Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help them offer earlier support to people at risk of hospital admission.
The “Brave AI” system, which helps staff to identify vulnerable patients who may otherwise go under the radar, will be rolled out to 30 areas over the next few months.
This follows a successful pilot in care homes in Somerset which reduced resident falls by 35%, attendances to Emergency Departments by 60%, and ambulance call-outs by 8.7%.
By using an algorithm to look for patterns in registered patients’ records, the technology assesses an individual’s risk of unplanned hospital admission in the next year.
Integrated neighbourhood teams of nurses, pharmacists, therapists, health coaches, social prescribers and doctors then use the information to reach out to those in need.
They can then offer to put in place personalised support, such as setting up remote health monitors, offering apps to self-report wellbeing, or linking up with voluntary groups or classes to avoid loneliness.
The scheme identifies people who could otherwise have gone unnoticed, such as those without a major diagnosed condition or those who rarely contact their GP.
NHS England South West medical director Dr Kheelna Bavalia said: “No one likes going to hospital unexpectedly so it’s much better for everyone if we can make good plans in advance and respond quickly to changes, before emergencies happen.
“Working together as a ‘team of teams’ of health and care professionals is key to helping us support people to stay well at home for longer and ensuring our system is as efficient and effective as possible, particularly in winter when demand is high.
“It will allow our healthcare professionals to start conversations early so that people can be directly involved in discussions about their care and help healthcare professionals understand what’s important to them.”
NHS national director for transformation, Dr Vin Diwakar, said: “NHS teams around the country are constantly identifying new, innovative digital solutions to help improve patient care, and this expansion of the Brave AI system right across the South West is a significant step forward in providing vital support for those most at risk of hospital admission.
“These measures not only keep some of the most vulnerable patients out of hospital but encourage conversations with patients who might not otherwise contact their GP, spotting health conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed and boosting our ability to intervene early when conditions are easier to treat.”
“The latest figures show that hospitals are already under considerable pressure as we enter December, with 1,200 more patients in hospital than the same time last year and the re-emergence of winter viruses, so it is vital that we maximise the use of these kinds of tools to cut admissions where we can, while the public play their part by getting their jabs if eligible and using 111 for any non-emergency conditions.”
