A Kent hospital has become the first in the country to use artificial intelligence (AI) as a way to diagnose infections and potentially save lives.
East Kent Hospitals (EKH) is the first NHS trust to trial such a tool, with a team on the Harvey ward at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital responsible for using the modern method.
The Kent and Canterbury team examining the new AI tool. Pictures: East Kent Hospitals
EKH will use AI to analyse clinical information such as blood tests, blood pressure and temperature to generate an individual infection risk level for each patient and reduce the risk of complications such as sepsis.
The software, called MEMORI, is part of a collaboration between the trust and Sanome, a UK health technology company.
The NHS 10-year plan sets out an ambition to move from analogue to digital and supports the use of more AI tools such as MEMORI, which is fully regulated as a software medical device.
Ward manager Julie Jones said: “We are all so excited to be the first NHS team to use MEMORI and are looking forward to being pioneers.
“It has incredible potential in terms of recognising signs of infection early, alerting clinicians to review the patient and potentially change their treatment plan.
Victor Casambros was the first patient to benefit from East Kent Hospitals new AI tool
“Our patients can be very complex and can deteriorate quickly, so early intervention is vital and potentially life-saving.”
Victor Casambros, 38, from Folkestone, was the first patient to have his observations entered into the system, having been on Harvey ward since April after suffering a stroke in January.
As a former digital communications manager, he is interested in new technology and was pleased to be able to be involved.
Sanome’s founder Benedikt von Thüngen said it will “empower clinical teams to take action, and gives them a greater window of opportunity to change a patient’s outcome”.
He founded the tool after his father developed sepsis following a cut on his toe. Unable to get a GP appointment, he had visited an emergency department but his condition deteriorated while he was waiting to be seen.
Benedikt said: “He called me in a total panic from the hospital and said he felt like he was going to die.
“I asked him to put his camera on and it was immediately obvious he had many of the signs of sepsis, including rapid breathing and mottled skin.
“He ended up spending several weeks in acute care as the staff desperately tried to save him.
“If you get a patient on the right treatment quickly you can prevent deterioration from happening.”
MEMORI analyses routine clinical information already recorded in the patient record, including observations, medications, and demographics, to generate an infection-risk level.
The AI tool is expected to help free up time for clinicians
Staff, including nurses, healthcare assistants, consultants and therapists have worked with Sanome teams on its development to ensure it supported real clinical practice.
It can also help free up staff to focus on patient care, with the confidence that the system will alert them if the infection risk level changes.
Benedikt added: “People work in healthcare because they want to provide care and comfort, not go hunting for information or analysing that information.
“Tools such as MEMORI help them do that job of caring.
“I’m really grateful that the team at East Kent Hospitals believed in us and that we can support busy teams in this way.
“It has been a fantastic partnership; everyone wants this innovation to happen, and for patients to be able to benefit.”
The tool sits alongside existing monitoring and escalation processes on the ward, including NEWS2, providing an additional signal to support earlier clinical awareness.