AI-powered administrative support could save an average of 400,000 hours of staff time per month if fully rolled out across the NHS, according to a new pilot.
The trial looked at the impact of Microsoft’s 365 Copilot across 90 NHS organisations, including over 30,000 staff. It found that the technology saved an average of 43 minutes per day per staff member, which would equate to five weeks annually.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said this could save up to 400,000 hours of staff time per month if it was rolled out fully across the NHS.
It estimated that this would include 83,333 hours in notetaking time each month, alongside 217,000 hours a month by summarising long and complex email chains for clinicians and staff.
Health leaders have said this ‘shines a light on the huge potential’ of AI to reduce workloads and bureaucracy.
Dr Layla McCay, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said: ‘When rolled out effectively, AI tools have great potential to improve NHS productivity and solve specific and identifiable problems.’
However, she also warned AI was ‘not always the most appropriate solution and is not the answer to every challenge’
‘That is why these pilots are so important, as they can suggest the impact AI tools can have when deployed more widely,’ she added.
‘However, it is vital that the NHS has the right digital infrastructure to support the development of AI tools and that staff are provided the training needed to use the software properly to achieve the most benefits.
‘Some areas may have poor or incompatible infrastructure and will not be ready for CoPilot yet, with some providers still lacking basics like reliable WiFi, interoperable and secure platforms. Continued capital investment is going to be vital if the NHS is going to develop and maintain the digital infrastructure it needs to make the most of developing AI technologies.’
Chief executive of NHS Providers, Daniel Elkeles added that ‘any measures that help free up NHS staff time to focus on frontline care and boost productivity should be welcomed’.
Copilot is available across the NHS, with over 50,000 staff members using it already. The software works by using AI within the office software staff already use, including Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Health innovation minister Dr Zubir Ahmed said: ‘As an NHS surgeon and clinician, I know how frustrating it can be to be held up by archaic technology that makes day-to-day tasks painstakingly long.
‘This partnership with Microsoft will help free up staff from spending time on admin so they can focus on what they want to be doing – treating patients.’
Darren Hardman, CEO of Microsoft UK & Ireland, added that the trial proves the ‘extraordinary potential’ of AI to ‘transform healthcare’.
‘By reducing admin and giving healthcare workers back a reported 43 minutes every day, Microsoft 365 Copilot can help the NHS redirect hundreds of thousands of hours each month towards patient care and potentially save hundreds of millions of pounds every year,’ he said.
In September, Microsoft launched its ambient voice technology tool in the UK, called Dragon Copilot.
A letter issued earlier this year by NHS England further developed its guidance on the use of AVT and stated that ‘all NHS organisations must ensure that any AVT solutions being used meets the specified NHS standards’.
The 10 year plan outlined the ambition to expand the use of AI in healthcare, with one of its ‘five big bets’ that AI will drive productivity and patient power.
