Artificial intelligence (AI) robots could be dealing with a third of all patient inquiries to the NHS 111 service within a couple of years, according to a leaked report.
The report authors say “new solutions” are needed to handle the helpline’s growing number of users, which is putting “pressure” on the NHS, says The Daily Telegraph.
NHS smartphone apps could become “the primary method of accessing health services”, according to the evaluation, with almost 16 million non-urgent medical inquiries dealt with online by algorithms, rather than by phone operators, by 2020.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The new service would allow patients to check symptoms online and read tailored advice generated by AI systems, with the option of referring their case for a call from an out-of-hours GP, says Alphr.
An NHS spokesperson told the tech site that a 111 online service would be a “win-win”, helping more users access medical information and freeing up time “for staff to spend with those patients who do prefer a direct conversation”.
However, The Daily Telegraph says patient groups are concerned “about the safety of such models”, and about potential access issues.
Joyce Robins, a co-director of human rights campaign group Patient Concern, told the newspaper: “I think these plans make very unfortunate assumptions that everyone has access to computers and smartphones, when in fact many elderly people do not.”
“I would be very fearful of the kind of mistakes that could be made, when you are relying on people who are poorly and often confused to work their way through computer questionnaires,” Robins added.
-
The 8 best sci-fi series of all timethe week recommends Imagining — and fearing — the future continues to give us compelling and thoughtful television
-
The Trump administration’s plans to dismantle the Department of EducationThe Explainer The president aims to fulfill his promise to get rid of the agency
-
‘These attacks rely on a political repurposing’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Spiralism is the new cult AI users are falling intoUnder the radar Technology is taking a turn
-
AI agents: When bots browse the webfeature Letting robots do the shopping
-
Is AI to blame for recent job cuts?Today’s Big Question Numerous companies have called out AI for being the reason for the culling
-
‘Deskilling’: a dangerous side effect of AI useThe explainer Workers are increasingly reliant on the new technology
-
AI models may be developing a ‘survival drive’Under the radar Chatbots are refusing to shut down
-
Saudi Arabia could become an AI focal pointUnder the Radar A state-backed AI project hopes to rival China and the United States
-
AI is making houses more expensiveUnder the radar Homebuying is also made trickier by AI-generated internet listings
-
‘How can I know these words originated in their heart and not some data center in northern Virginia?’instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
