Artificial intelligence (AI) tools will be deployed at Barnsley Hospital in a bid to cut waiting lists, missed appointments and the admin burden on staff as part of a pilot scheme.
The move follows Barnsley being named by the government in February as the UK’s first “Tech Town”, seeking to create a “trailblazing” hub for how AI can improve everyday life.
A government spokesperson said they wanted to use the technology to free up NHS staff to spend more time on patient care, with the pilot due to start in April.
Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said Barnsley was “showing the rest of the country how we can use tech to build a future that works for all”.
The government spokesperson said the intention with the hospital scheme was “to provide local residents with more time with clinical staff, reduced missed appointments and shorter waiting lists”.
