Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has launched the Centre for Emergency Care and Global Health (CENT-EC Global), designed to foster international collaboration and innovation as a “direct and necessary response” to urgent challenges facing emergency departments across the country.
Described by the trust as a “centre of academic excellence”, CENT-EC Global will focus on practical and scalable solutions, promoting digital innovation alongside frontline education and international partnerships to make emergency care safer and more equitable around the world.
Three key priorities are identified for the centre, including using digital to improve safety and efficiency, developing tools such as AI scribes and AI tools for clinical decision support. Global partnerships will support mutual learning, training and development; whilst the development of the CHOICE programme later in 2025 is intended to improve access and education for underserved communities in Leeds.
A launch event for the centre touched upon topics including how ambient AI can support clinicians in real time, and VR for emergency medical training.
Dr Taj Hassan, consultant in emergency medicine at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, pointed to emergency care as a pressure point for all healthcare systems. “Through this centre and the collaborations we are building we will be developing AI tools to make our Emergency Departments safer, using virtual reality to train the next generation of clinicians, and building partnerships that support colleagues here and overseas,” he said.
Wider trend: The role of digital in urgent and emergency care
The Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26 has been published, setting out seven priorities offering the “biggest impact” on UEC improvement over the coming winter, minimum requirements for system winter plans, and roles and responsibilities across NHSE, DHSC, trusts and ICBs. The seven areas of priority include ensuring Category 2 patients receive an ambulance within 30 minutes; a maximum ambulance handover time of 45 minutes; 78 percent of patients admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours; and tackling delays in patient waits once ready for discharge, “starting with reducing the 30,000 patients staying 21 days over their discharge-ready-date”.
Earlier this year, SBRI Healthcare awarded £3.9 million to nine innovations that support the delivery of urgent & emergency care, in partnership with the Health Innovation Network funding programme. The funding aims to support innovations that scope health and care outside of hospitals, support reduced length of stay, improve discharge, or support the workforce.
Join HTN and a panel of experts on the 8 October to discuss how digital can improve urgent and emergency care. To register your interest, please click here.
