Welcome to another edition of HTN’s news in brief, where we share some of the health tech stories that have caught our attention over the last few weeks.
Robotic process automation at Kent Community Health
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust has offered an update on progress around robotic process automation, highlighting that it now has 248 active bots, with 161 more in development.
The focus is on reducing manual tasks and improving efficiency, it states, saving 95,517 hours to date and freeing up capacity for frontline care. The trust also plans to deploy them to assist Kent School Health with screening letters, to reduce administrative burden.
AI in use to improve detection of Down’s syndrome at Royal Bolton Hospital
Researchers at Royal Bolton Hospital are using AI to help improve the detection of Down’s syndrome in unborn babies, according to Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.
The AI technology is optimising the way data traditionally collected is assessed to understand the potential for a baby to be born with Down’s syndrome, making sure “only the mother’s of babies with the highest chance of being born with Down’s syndrome are sent for more tests”.
Jamie Osborne, principal clinical scientist at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said the response so far has been “really positive”, highlighting that testing will become more accurate as more data is generated, adding: “At this stage it’s a proof of concept, but this has given us the confidence that we can use biochemical data to improve accuracy, health outcomes and services.”
Torbay and South Devon introduces new automated dispensing robot
An automated dispensing robot, “Spencer”, has been introduced to the inpatient pharmacy team at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, replacing the previous version which reportedly collected more than 3.4 million packs of medicines during its 18-year career.
The new model is said to be faster, and is designed to work with the trust’s EPR, with hopes of improving safety and efficiency in dispensing processes.
Explaining how Spencer represents “a real step forward” for the pharmacy service, Paul Foster, chief pharmacist, said: “Our team worked incredibly hard during the transition period — manually processing every prescription — to keep patients safe and ensure discharges could continue smoothly. Having Spencer now in place gives us speed, accuracy and reliability, and crucially, puts us in a strong position ahead of our EPR launch in April.”
East Lancashire Hospitals celebrates virtual wards milestone
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has achieved the milestone of treating more than 45,000 patients via its Hospital at Home service.
The virtual wards programme has been running for three years, assessing, treating, and supporting patients at home to reduce pressure on inpatient wards.
Tony McDonald, the trust’s chief integration officer, spoke of the “remarkable achievement”, highlighting the difference colleagues in community-based services are making for patients and their families.
More than 20,000 sign up to Birmingham Women’s and Children’s healthcare app
Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust has shared that more than 20,000 patients, family members, and carers have now signed up to its MyChart BWC healthcare app to access health records, appointments, test results, and video consultations.
Patients can also use MyChart BWC to update their medical information and share their health records with other medical professionals.
Over the coming year, the trust plans to introduce the ability to book earlier appointment slots in case of cancellations, and to improve integration with the NHS App.
