New findings show how Artificial Intelligence is being used in NHS Hospitals in order to help save stroke survivors from permanent disability.
Since it’s introduction, AI technology has helped to triple the number of patients who can resume normal life after stroke.
This AI assists doctors to be able to quickly diagnose patients who have had a stroke.
Analysis of this data, which included over 100,000 suspected stroke patients has shown a rise from 16 to 48 per cent in those who made near full recoveries, due to faster diagnosis, leading to quicker door to treatment times.
Currently, this software is only in use in 22 hospitals nationwide, but there is plans to rollout this AI technology.
The NHS believe that AI technology that can predict when patients will be ready to be discharged could be a key element in helping to overcome the bedblocking crisis.
Furthermore, this allows the opportunity for social care services to be able to act in advance and prepare care home beds or community care packages.
The technology provided by Brainomix has what Health Secretary Steve Barclay is calling “the potential to transform our NHS.”
He says: “Brainomix is an incredible example of how this can be achieved, using the power of AI to shave lifesaving minutes off one of the most time-sensitive diagnoses in medicine meaning patients get the treatment they need faster.”
The software enables stroke specialists to access scans and images remotely, which means they can support other hospitals on Integrated Stroke Delivery Networks (ISDN).
So far it has been used on over 100,000 suspected stroke patients, and has been found to cut average diagnosis to treatment time by an hour, down from 140 to 79 minutes.
NHS England Director of Transformation, Dr Timothy Ferris says: “Every minute saved during the initial hospital assessment of people with stroke-like symptoms can dramatically improve a patient’s chance of leaving hospital in good health.
“The NHS is harnessing the potential that AI has to support expert staff in delivering life-changing care for patients with a range of needs, and through the AI in Health and Care awards we are testing, evaluating and supporting the most promising technologies which could transform the way we deliver care.”
ThisE-Stroke software is part of the growing use of AI within the NHS and it is now being trialled in four sites in Wales to help the fight against unnecessary hospital stays.
