UK testing an AI tool to speed up hospital discharges

Patients in the UK could soon find themselves leaving hospitals quicker than ever, thanks to a new AI-powered tool designed to cut through the red tape of discharge paperwork. The technology, backed by the Prime Minister's AI Exemplars programme, promises to free up overworked doctors, reduce hospital waiting times, and — crucially — get people back home to their families sooner. As Health Secretary Wes Streeting put it, "This potentially transformational discharge tool is a prime example of how we're shifting from analogue to digital as part of our 10 Year Health Plan."

How does it work?

The system leans on a large language model to draft discharge summaries. Instead of clinicians painstakingly typing up diagnoses, test results, and medication changes, the AI combs through patient records, pulls the relevant details, and assembles a ready-to-review summary. Doctors still make the final call, checking for accuracy and signing off before the paperwork goes out the door.

A few key points about how it's being set up:

• Developed at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust
• Hosted on the NHS Federated Data Platform, keeping patient information secure
• Designed to work across multiple health and care services, paving the way for a nationwide rollout if pilots succeed

In plain English, the machine does the heavy lifting, while doctors get the last word.

Why does it matter?

At the moment, delays in discharge are a huge headache. Outdated systems force clinicians to spend precious time on forms instead of patients. That can mean:

• People stuck in beds when they're ready to go home
• Risk of errors in treatment notes or medication changes
• Bottlenecks that keep new patients from being admitted

The stakes are high: clogged wards mean slower care for everyone. Streeting underscored the human side of the change: "Doctors will spend less time on paperwork and more time with patients, getting people home to their families faster and freeing up beds for those who need them most."

In short, faster discharges aren't just about efficiency — they're about safety, dignity, and making sure hospitals run as smoothly as possible.

The context

This project is one of several being tested under the AI Exemplars programme. The idea is to trial the most promising technologies and then scale them across the NHS if they deliver results. The discharge tool fits neatly into the government's broader push to drag the health service from paper files and creaky IT into a digital-first future.

For years, clinicians have been crying out for tools that save time without cutting corners. The fact that this tool is baked into the NHS's secure data platform is significant — it avoids the Wild West of one-off pilots and ensures consistency across the system. If it works, it could mark a turning point: a real-world, trusted example of AI shaving off wasted hours and improving patient outcomes.