NHS Trust to Integrate AI for Reduced Hospital Visits for Respiratory Patients

An NHS trust intends to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) technology to enhance a program that supports patients in Hull and East Yorkshire with chronic respiratory illnesses. This initiative, known as the Lenus chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) support system, involves patients utilizing a mobile application to monitor their symptoms. The Humber Health Partnership has reported a 40% decrease in the number of patients requiring re-admission to hospital for treatment since the system’s launch in March 2023. The partnership aims to further reduce this figure, potentially by as much as 90%, by employing AI technology to analyze the data collected through the app. The application prompts patients to regularly answer questions concerning their well-being, facilitating the collection of data. It also provides a direct communication channel for patients to message their NHS clinic. Professor Mike Crooks, who manages the service, stated: “This prompts them to make contact to initiate treatment early, so that we can give them the care they need to get them back on the right path before the point they need to come into hospital.” Professor Crooks explained that AI will be used to analyze the data, assisting medical professionals in identifying trends and triggers that can lead to COPD requiring care. This capability will enable the clinic to implement interventions to support patients before their condition necessitates hospital care. Ruth, who was diagnosed with COPD at the age of 14, has been using the Lenus app as part of her treatment. Prior to using the app, she visited the hospital three or four times a year. “Now those visits have been cut down to virtually zero,” she said. She added: “If I need to reach out to a clinician, I know that the app’s there and I can do that.”