The UK Government has announced that hospitals across England are increasingly adopting AI demand forecasting tool in National Health Service (NHS) hospitals to predict busy periods in accident and emergency (A&E) departments.

The tool is available to all NHS Trusts and is currently used by 50 NHS organisations. It assists hospitals in planning for the number of people likely to need emergency care each day.

For staff, this supports better shift and bed space planning, minimising last-minute pressures through improved forecasts that identify potential bottlenecks.

Patients are expected to benefit from shorter waiting times during busy periods, ensuring they receive care more promptly.

The AI tool, which is continually trained on seasonal health data, is designed to detect surges in demand before they occur, allowing hospitals to deploy staff where most needed.

It incorporates a range of data, including Met Office temperature forecasts, hospital admissions, and patterns in busier days of the week, to produce short- and medium-term forecasts. Hospitals can use these projections to better manage resources for upcoming days and weeks.

This initiative is part of the Prime Minister’s AI Exemplars programme, which seeks to use AI to enhance public services and modernise existing systems.

UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “AI is already improving healthcare by speeding up diagnosis and unlocking new treatments. Now we are going a step further.”

“By helping to predict demand, this AI forecasting tool is getting patients the care they need faster while supporting our incredible NHS staff. That means easing pressure by ensuring the NHS is at the forefront of the latest technology during the busiest time of year.”

In August 2025, the UK Government announced the development of an AI-assisted tool at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust to accelerate the hospital discharge process.