A MAJOR NHS artificial intelligence (AI) trial could potentially save 400,000 hours each month for NHS staff.
The technology, part of a wider productivity drive, is already making a difference at NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, where it is being used to support neurodivergent staff with daily admin tasks.
For NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire staff, the AI tool prioritises inbox tasks and emails, helping users manage deadlines and reduce the burden of manual sorting.
The trial is part of a national pilot of Microsoft 365 Copilot, involving more than 30,000 NHS workers across 90 organisations.
It found that the technology could save up to 400,000 hours of staff time every month if fully rolled out.
Dr Zubir Ahmed, health innovation minister, said: "As an NHS surgeon and clinician, I know how frustrating it can be to be held up by archaic technology that makes day-to-day tasks painstakingly long.
"This partnership with Microsoft will help free up staff from spending time on admin so they can focus on what they want to be doing – treating patients.
"Innovations like this will help drive NHS productivity so patients can get the treatment they need sooner and there is better value for taxpayers.
"We’re making sure every pound is spent on cutting waiting times and boosting care through our Plan for Change."
The Copilot tool at NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire has helped reduce inbox prioritisation time from 45–60 minutes to about 10 minutes, easing stress for neurodivergent staff and improving efficiency.
Nationally, Microsoft 365 Copilot is now used by more than 50,000 NHS staff.
It integrates AI into everyday office tools such as Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to support daily workflows.
Darren Hardman, CEO of Microsoft UK and Ireland, said: "This major trial proves the extraordinary potential of AI to transform healthcare.
"By reducing admin and giving healthcare workers back a reported 43 minutes every day, Microsoft 365 Copilot can help the NHS redirect hundreds of thousands of hours each month towards patient care and potentially save hundreds of millions of pounds every year.
"We’re proud to support the NHS in this digital transformation."
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