Key Takeaways
- University Hospitals of Leicester has upgraded its Nervecentre electronic patient record system and is implementing AI-powered ambient voice technology.
- The new technologies aim to enhance access to clinical information, streamline workflows, and reduce the administrative burden on healthcare staff.
- The phased rollout will improve patient documentation efficiency, with AI generating draft clinical notes for clinician review during consultations.
Enhancements to Digital Healthcare at UHL
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) has made significant advancements in its digital infrastructure, upgrading its Nervecentre electronic patient record (EPR) system and initiating the deployment of AI-powered ambient voice technology (AVT). These technological enhancements are part of a larger strategy to transform UHL into a fully digitally enabled organization.
The recent upgrade to the Nervecentre system includes the introduction of digital clinical documentation specifically for inpatients, alongside expanded electronic prescribing and fully electronic processes for diagnostic imaging—such as X-rays and CT scans—in outpatient services. By broadening digital workflows across these areas, the objective is to provide clinicians with timely and comprehensive patient information at the point of care, thereby facilitating quicker decision-making and enhancing the efficiency of patient admissions, treatments, and discharges.
In conjunction with the EPR upgrades, UHL has initiated a gradual rollout of AVT, following a successful pilot and an extended testing phase. This innovative AI technology captures conversations between clinicians and patients during consultations, generating a draft clinical note automatically. Clinicians will review, edit, and approve the draft before it becomes part of the patient’s medical record. Additionally, the system streamlines communication by automatically producing letters for patients and general practitioners; these documents can be issued promptly once approved, ensuring patient records are current.
Will Monaghan, the group chief digital information officer at both UHL and University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group, emphasized the collaborative effort that led to these improvements. He stated, “This is the result of many months of work by hundreds of digital, clinical, administrative, and operational colleagues. Together, they have strengthened our Nervecentre EPR and begun the safe, phased rollout of AVT. Our ambition is to become a fully digitally enabled Trust, improving the quality of care and the experience of care for patients.”
Monaghan also highlighted the purpose behind these advancements: allowing clinicians to focus more on patient interactions rather than administrative tasks, all while ensuring thorough oversight of clinical documentation. The decision to phase in the technology was based on feedback and evaluations from both staff and patients, ensuring the requirements and expectations were met before wider implementation.
The trust is currently undertaking these developments in stages across different specialties, aiming for a seamless integration of technology into everyday patient care routines. Monaghan shared insights on this process during a discussion at the Digital Health Rewired 2026 event, where he addressed the scaling of the Federated Data Platform and AVT in the Leicester and Northamptonshire regions.
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