AI could save each NHS doctor and nurse more than four hours of admin time per week, according to research from Microsoft and Goldsmiths, University of London.
The research by Goldsmiths, which was featured in Microsoft’s report Harnessing the Power of AI for the Public Sector, revealed that AI could save a doctor four hours of admin time each week.
And it could save nurses five hours of time spent on admin every week.
Half of respondents (48%) said that high admin workloads were compromising the quality of service they provide and limiting the time they can spend with the public or patients (49%).
Based on surveys of more than 1,000 public sector workers, including 100 doctors and 101 nurses, the report found that managing information and data is the administrative task that takes the biggest proportion of time across the public sector.
The report revealed that it took each public sector worker an average of more than eight hours every week.
With an estimated 5.93 million public sector employees in the UK as of December 2023, the time that AI could save equates to 23 million hours per week.
The research was developed by Dr Chris Brauer, director of innovation at Goldsmiths. He said: ‘Generative AI and large language models (LLMs) have the transformative potential to reshape government operations and redefine the future of public service delivery. Governments cannot afford to remain frozen as AI transforms the world around us.’
The report offered seven recommendations for the next government to broaden and strengthen the adoption of AI throughout the public sector. (See box)
This includes the creation of a centralised unit to focus on driving AI adoption and a strategy to upskill the public sector workforce.
The report also recommended the introduction of a set of guiding principles to ensure public sector workers benefit from AI while being protected from potential risks.
Seven recommendations made by the report
The seven recommendations for the next government to broaden and strengthen the adoption of AI throughout the public sector are:
- Establish a national AI delivery centre: Create a centralised unit within Whitehall focused on driving AI adoption across government departments. This centre would pool expertise and resources from government, academia, and industry to develop scalable AI solutions.
- Declare ‘AI for All’ principles: Introduce a set of guiding principles to ensure all public sector employees benefit from AI while being protected from potential risks. This declaration would emphasise the need for AI literacy and continuous learning.
- Implement a comprehensive upskilling strategy: Develop a holistic approach to upskilling the public sector workforce. This strategy would target public sector leaders, employees, and the general public, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.
- Unlock the power of public sector data: Break down data silos and treat data as a strategic asset. This involves modernising data infrastructure and promoting data sharing across government entities to enable seamless AI integration.
- Reimagine procurement processes: Update procurement mechanisms to prioritise AI technologies. An AI-First policy would ensure the acquisition of cutting-edge technologies that drive transformative change while adhering to ethical standards.
- Accelerate local government AI adoption: Support local authorities in scaling successful public-private partnership models. This involves creating networks of ‘change agents’ who can drive AI adoption and share best practices.
- Maximise economic opportunities: Update the Treasury’s approach to strategically invest in AI technologies across the public sector. This includes introducing an AI Transformation Mandate for all departments to identify and implement AI opportunities.
