A measles screening sign at Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario on July 9, 2025 - Copyright AFP/File Geoff Robins
The UK National Health Service (NHS) is piloting AI tools at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trusts, designed to accelerate patient discharges. This is to potentially free up thousands of bed-days annually. With administrative tasks consuming up to 30% of doctors' time, AI offers, in theory, a data-backed solution to improve efficiency.
This is an important policy area, since NHS England and The Lagom Clinic data shows that in July 2025, over 100,000 patients were delayed in discharge.
A health expert - Dr. Jack Ogden - has explained to Digital Journal how AI can enhance operational efficiency while preserving patient-centred care. Ogden specialises in diabetes management, weight loss, sports medicine, men's health, and paediatrics.
AI and Hospital Efficiency: A Data-Driven Shift
Early trials at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust show AI tools can complete discharge summaries in seconds, a task that previously took up to 20 minutes per patient. Experts estimate that if deployed widely, AI-assisted discharges could save the NHS millions of bed-days annually, improving both patient flow and clinical outcomes.
The news resonates because it sits at the intersection of technology, healthcare, and public service reform. Media coverage frames AI as both a potential saviour for overburdened hospitals and a source of controversy over data privacy and workforce automation. Patients and unions are watching closely, making this a hot-button issue with social, ethical, and operational implications.
Integrating AI in Healthcare
As to how AI can assist with healthcare improvements, Ogden provides the following examples:
Reviewing the above approaches, Ogden explains: "AI in healthcare administration presents a tremendous opportunity to alleviate operational pressures while enhancing patient care. At The Lagom Clinic, we see AI as a tool to streamline mundane tasks, freeing doctors to spend more time with patients."
As to how this can be achieved in practice, Ogden finds: The key is integration: these systems must be transparent, secure, and used in ways that preserve the human element of medicine. Technology should simplify workflows without undermining trust, empathy, or clinical judgment. Early NHS pilots are promising, but careful monitoring, staff training, and patient-centric policies will determine long-term success."
Ogden concludes his assessment by stating: "By adopting AI responsibly, hospitals can address bed-blocking challenges, reduce staff burnout, and ultimately deliver better care."