A hospital consultation pilot that is using artificial intelligence (AI) to transcribe patient notes has been shortlisted in the national HSJ Digital Awards 2025.
Nurses carrying out pre-operative assessments on patients at ELHT have been trialling the technology, which records the conversation between clinician and patient and transcribes it into meaningful notes which are then uploaded to the patient record. This is freeing up time which allows them to see more patients.
The Trust introduced the CLEARnotes tool, with robust information governance and safety protocols, in September 2024 as part of an NHS England pilot.
By February the AI tool had been used in 1,700 consultations. It is boosting productivity by as much 10% while cutting waiting times and improving patient experience.
Since the Trust first used the technology, the pre-operative department has gone from seeing 55 patients per day to 63.
Beyond improving efficiency, the AI-generated notes enhances consistency in medical records, ultimately benefiting the entire healthcare system.
Dr Domnic Sebastian, Divisional Medical Director for Surgery and Anaesthetics, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The tool was introduced with a clear goal: to support our clinical teams to reduce administrative burdens, allowing them to focus more on direct patient care. As a result, our nurses have been able to spend more meaningful time with patients, improving both patient and colleague satisfaction while enhancing care outcomes.
“Additionally, the tool has streamlined documentation within our Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system, helping us reclaim valuable clinical time, reduce stress and ultimately deliver better care to our patients."
The project has now been shortlisted in the Supporting elective recovery through digital category of the HSJ Digital Awards which take place on 26 June.
The HSJ Digital Awards shine a light on teams and organisations driving meaningful change through technology, improving patient outcomes, streamlining processes, and enhancing the overall quality of care.