Walsall Manor Hospital records 99.86 per cent reduction in admin time thanks to pioneering use of AI transcription tool
Doctors at Walsall Manor Hospital are pioneering the use of artificial intelligence to reduce administrative burden, enhance patient safety, and unlock thousands of hours of clinical capacity.
Dr Mohammed Jamil Aslam, consultant in emergency medicine and the trust’s clinical lead for quality improvement, is leading the pilot of ambient voice technology via Heidi Health, an AI-powered transcription tool that listens to and transcribes patient consultations in real time.
The system identifies key clinical information and automatically generates structured notes, clinic letters, and discharge summaries. Clinicians then review these for accuracy.
Dr Aslam said the technology, initially introduced as a three-month pilot in Walsall, which has since been extended, has already begun transforming clinical workflows.
“Using this technology has been a real game-changer,” he said. “It’s significantly reduced admin time and given clinicians more time to focus on patient care.
“This technology not only makes us more efficient, it also improves safety through more detailed and timely records. It’s enabling us to see more patients.”
In the emergency department, documentation time has dropped by an average of six minutes per consultation, representing a 62 per cent reduction.
With around 300 patients attending daily, this equates to nearly 11,000 hours of clinical capacity created within the emergency department alone.
In dermatology outpatients, letter turnaround time has gone from 9.28 days to just 18 minutes. This 99.86 per cent reduction was achieved without additional secretarial input, freeing up administrative staff for other essential duties.
The dermatology department has also adopted the technology, supported by Well Wishers, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s charity.
Dr James Halpern, consultant dermatologist, said: “This new technology has been fantastic.
“It helps us produce letters more quickly, with richer information. Ultimately, it improves outcomes and experiences for our patients.”
Georgie Westley, fundraising manager for Well Wishers, added: “We’re delighted to support our clinicians as they embrace new technology.
“By helping reduce paperwork and speed up communication, we’re ultimately improving care and patient experience across Walsall.”
