Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust reshapes care with AI and robotic
A key AI system generates structured summaries of doctor-patient conversations, reducing clinic letter turnaround times from up to a week to one or two days.
At The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, AI is beginning to transform how doctors and patients experience healthcare, cutting down on paperwork and making surgery more precise. Hospital leaders say the shift is already delivering tangible results, from faster clinical letters to reduced patient hospital visits.
One of the most impactful innovations is CLEARNotes, a system that records and summarises doctor-patient consultations. Instead of doctors spending days drafting clinic letters, the technology reduces turnaround time from as long as a week to just a day or two. Clinicians report that this tool saves time and improves productivity by as much as 25% in some clinics while ensuring that safety and governance standards remain intact.
Surgery is another area where technology is making its mark. The trust operates two Da Vinci Xi robots, now a regular feature in complex procedures, including urology, colorectal, cardiothoracic, and gynaecology cases. Compared to traditional keyhole surgery, robotic operations give surgeons better control and dexterity through a console linked to a 3D camera, while patients benefit from shorter stays and faster recoveries.
Digital tools also shape the patient’s journey before surgery begins. With My Pre-Op, patients complete their pre-operative questionnaires online from home, reducing unnecessary hospital visits and helping to ensure they are in the best condition for their operation. Hospital staff say this streamlines both efficiency and patient comfort.
The innovations recently drew praise from Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, who visited the hospital to see the systems in action. He described the trust’s embrace of AI and robotics as ‘inspiring,’ noting how safe experimentation and digital adoption already translate into improved care and efficiency. For Wolverhampton’s healthcare providers, the changes represent not just a technological upgrade but a glimpse into the future of how the NHS might deliver care across the country.
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