It is estimated that there are eight million missed hospital appointments each year with an annual cost to the NHS of around £1.2bn. Last month, the NHS launched a renewed drive to reduce hundreds of thousands of missed hospital appointments every month, to help boost the recovery of elective services. AI and digital technologies are going to play a key role in improving the patient experience, aswell as reducing cost, maximising existing resources and helping to fill the labour shortage gap.

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which supports a population of 1.2m people, with an average did not attend (DNA) rate of 8%, has announced it is piloting an Artificial intelligence (AI) solution that predicts likely missed appointments and offers back-up bookings.

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