AI reminders “with a Barnsley accent” and virtual assistance to write up notes are being piloted at a hospital in "Britain's tech town".

Earlier this year, Barnsley was named by the Government as a trailblazer for how AI “can build a future that works for all”.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Joe Culshaw said “ambient voice” technology already seems to be “solving a lot of issues the (town’s) paediatric department is facing."

When he started at Barnsley Hospital under two years ago, clinicians were still writing up notes after clinics and sending them to a secretary to transcribe, with a two-week turnround for letters to patients, GPs and other specialists.

They then tried a new computer system, without AI. But doctors found they were having to type in answers to questions during appointments rather than engaging with patients.

Now the AI tool which listens to the conversations between doctor and patient and then delivers a summary which can be sent to the GP, or as a referral letter to a specialist, is increasing the amount of time spent with the patient (up to 13 minutes of a 15 minute slot).

Dr Culshaw said he'd been "extremely impressed" by the quality of the summary, which doctors proofread for accuracy, and believes in future they should be able to see more patients per clinic.

The Living Lab project, in tandem with Cisco, also seeks to solve the thorny problem of patients cancelling appointments at the last minute, which leave outpatient clinics on average only running at about 80 per cent full.

"We want to use AI to reach out to patients," said director of ICT Tom Davidson, explaining that they don't have the resources to actively chase patients. Cisco Webex technology will instead “connect with these individuals digitally or even over the phone to convince them to come tomorrow".

They currently send out texts and reminders, but they hope an “encouraging and friendly” AI voice "maybe with a Barnsley accent" will convince patients to come in, reminding them that the missed appointment costs the NHS £400.

It comes as the Government also announced a £800,000 upskilling fund, run by Barnsley Council and starting in May, to reach people and small and medium businesses who might otherwise be left behind.

Until recently being overtaken by oil giant Shell, Barnsley Council was the world's largest user of Microsoft Copilot, which one social worker has described as a “sort of personal secretary” helping reduce the administrative burden.

Council leader Sir Steve Houghton said the council aims to create a national centre of excellence in a new building in the town centre and are trying to attract Imperial College London.

The town is already home to US company SHI International, one of the world’s largest IT solutions providers. Sir Steve said it wasn’t about getting Microsoft or Google to relocate: “There are high-tech businesses in their supply chains – it is getting some of these businesses here. It is about growing our own.”