University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) and University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group (UHN) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft to enhance patient care through AI healthcare solutions.
The partnership aims to integrate AI into clinical care delivery, care administration, and support services transformation, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
It will see AI incorporated into Electronic Patient Records and other core services, providing healthcare professionals with essential information and streamlining their workflows.
UHN Group chief digital information officer Will Monaghan said: “We’re proud to be recognised as an exemplar in deploying first-of-type systems like Nervecentre and we’re also leading the way in exploring how to use AI safely, effectively and ethically.
“Our collaboration with Microsoft is a significant step forward as we strengthen our ability to build and develop digital capacity, rather than simply consuming existing products and services.
“This transformation is grounded in three pillars: clinical support, corporate services, and clinical operations. Across each, we’re already making meaningful progress.”
UHN is currently trialling various clinical support systems, including ambient AI scribes for consultations, which promise to revolutionise patient interactions.
In corporate services, automation is projected to save up to £6m annually, while AI is already assisting with clinical coding and basic triage in clinical operations.
The technological advancement is expected to free up clinicians’ time, allowing them to focus more on patient care.
UHL and UHN have set an ambitious goal: by the end of 2027, no time should be spent on tasks where digital or AI solutions can perform better, faster, or to the same standard.
Microsoft UK healthcare and life sciences managing director Jacob West said: “We are delighted to be working with University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and University Hospitals of Northampton NHS Trust Group to further explore how AI technologies can transform healthcare delivery.
“This technology has the power to completely reimagine the patient and clinician experience, and we look forward to working together to reduce administrative burden, put more information in the hands of clinicians and ultimately give back more time to care.”
UHL and UHN chief executive Richard Mitchell said: “This new commitment reflects our determination to harness AI to benefit patient care and provide cutting-edge tools and support for colleagues.”
In a separate development, UHL’s surgical teams conducted nearly 90 surgeries during a four-day Paediatric ‘Super Week’.
The effort aims to reduce waiting times for paediatric surgeries, focusing on low-complexity procedures in ear, nose, and throat (ENT), general surgery, and maxillofacial specialities.
The surgeries were performed as day cases or with a single overnight stay in a child-friendly environment, increasing surgical capacity ahead of the winter season.
