AQW 20405/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 13/01/2025
Answered On Date: 28/01/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any consideration he has given to the use of artificial intelligence to address waiting lists.

Answer:

My Department is working with the Chief Digital Information Officer to ascertain if AI technologies can be utilised to help reduce current waiting times.

Progress has been made in this area, including a trial which is underway in Antrim Area Hospital with an AI application to improve the detection of fractures in the Emergency Department. Following formal evaluation of this trial period, a decision will be made as to its full implementation into other areas.

Other areas being explored include the increased use of AI tools on scanners to reduce sequence time, hence reducing scanning time and increasing throughput. There are future plans to consider testing AI algorithms to assist with referral/ decision making, scheduling and acquisition, reporting and triage of reporting, and results acknowledgement/alerts.

My Department is also working with Trusts and the Digital Health and Care Northern Ireland (DHCNI) team to address patient waiting list duplications through the development of a new electronic application which helps identify duplicate referrals within the same Trust and across Trusts. All these initiatives had reduced the administrative input and have helped improve productivity and efficiency and ultimately helps reduce waiting times.

Another area where my Department utilises smart technology is in its use for waiting list validation. The roll-out of text reminders and the use of QR codes, which are placed on patient letters, are scanned and patients are directed to a survey which they are prompted to complete. The results of the survey help the relevant clinician determine whether the patient needs to remain on the waiting list.