Patients in need of assistance will be able to type their symptoms into an artificial intelligence app, which is set up as a text message interface. The chatbot will respond with medical questions to gather information about the patient, and will conclude by providing guidance on how to proceed.
The health services’ telephone helpline has been criticized in recent years, with some alleging that poor advice from respondents led to rises in accident and emergency admissions, according to The Telegraph. Unlike helpline respondents, who are not medical professionals, the artificial intelligence app will have access to a database of medical information.
NHS will begin trials with the app, which is developed in partnership with London-based technology company Babylon Health, at the end of January 2017.
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