University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) and University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group (UHN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Microsoft to formalise a partnership to develop AI healthcare solutions.
The agreement builds on existing relationships and successes to benefit patient care and includes incorporating AI into how we deliver clinical care, administer care and transform support services across our organisations. It also opens the way to integrate AI into our Electronic Patient Record and other core services, supporting colleagues with the information they need, making their working lives easier and improving patient care.
Group Chief Digital Information Officer Will Monaghan is pleased to have formalised the relationship with Microsoft: “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.
“We’re trialling a range of clinical support systems, including ambient AI scribes for consultations. In corporate services, automation could release up to £6 million annually. And in clinical operations, AI is beginning to assist with clinical coding and basic triage – helping free up clinicians to spend more time with patients.”
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.
“We have a bold ambition: by the end of 2027, no time should be spent on a task where a digital or AI solution could do it better, more quickly or to the same standard. This is about creating time for what matters most – caring for our patients.”
Jacob West, Managing Director, Healthcare & Life Sciences at Microsoft UK 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.”