Responses

AI Use in Operations

1. Does your organisation currently use any form of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or automated systems in its operations?

o If yes, please list the tools or systems in use and provide a brief description of their purpose (e.g., administrative support, triage, analytics, chatbot services, etc.).

o If not, please state whether your organisation has explored or piloted any AI-based technologies in the past 3 years.

AI for Decision-Making

2. Does your organisation use AI or algorithmic systems to support or inform decision-making in any area (e.g., resource allocation, risk assessments, case prioritisation)?

o If yes, please describe the type of decision-making supported and the nature of the AI’s role (e.g., advisory, automated assessment, automated decision).

o Please also confirm whether human oversight is applied.

AI Chatbots and Customer Interaction

3. Does your organisation currently use chatbots or virtual assistants—AI-driven or rules-based—to support public enquiries or internal staff functions?

o If yes, please specify their purpose, whether they are AI-based, and when they were implemented.

Policies and Governance

4. Does your organisation have any formal policy, strategy, or guidance relating to the use of Artificial Intelligence or automated decision-making?

o If yes, please supply a copy or provide a link.

o If not, please indicate whether such a policy is in development.

Data Protection and Ethics

5. If AI systems are used, what measures or frameworks does your organisation have in place to ensure:

o Compliance with data protection and privacy obligations
o Transparency for service users
o Ethical or responsible use

(For example, DPIAs, algorithmic impact assessments, ethical guidelines—if applicable.)

Trials, Pilots, or Future Plans

6. Has your organisation run any pilots, trials, or exploratory projects involving AI in the last 3 years, or does it plan to do so in the next 12–24 months?

o If yes, please provide brief details of the purpose, timeline, and status of these initiatives.

Staff Training and Awareness

7. Does your organisation provide any training, guidance, or internal communications to staff relating to AI, its use, or its implications?

o If yes, please describe the type of training or include documents if available.

If any of the above information is already publicly accessible, please feel free to provide links instead of attachments.

Thank you for your time and assistance.

Kind regards,

1. Digital Dictation

Name of supplier & product
Number of user licences
Procurement method (e.g., framework)
Contract start date
Contract expiry date (please specify fixed end date vs option to extend/rolling contract)
Total contract value (if available)
Integration with PAS/EPR (please specify if outbound only – e.g., patient demographics, clinic work list – or outbound and inbound, e.g., document return)
Key internal stakeholder role/title
Desired features not currently delivered (optional)

2. Outsourced Transcription

Name of supplier & product
Procurement method (e.g., framework)
Contract start date
Average monthly volume of letters (if available)
Average monthly volume of lines (if available)
Total contract value (if available)
Key internal stakeholder role/title
Desired features not currently delivered (optional)

3. Speech Recognition

Name of supplier & product
Number of user licences
Procurement method (e.g., framework)
Contract start date
Contract expiry date (please specify fixed end date vs option to extend/rolling contract)
Total contract value (if available)
Integration with PAS/EPR (please specify if outbound only – e.g., patient demographics, clinic work list – or outbound and inbound, e.g., document return)
Key internal stakeholder role/title
Desired features not currently delivered (optional)

4. Ambient AI Scribe

Name of supplier & product
Number of user licences
Procurement method (e.g., framework)
Contract start date
Contract expiry date (please specify fixed end date vs option to extend/rolling contract)
Total contract value (if available)
Integration with PAS/EPR (please specify if outbound only – e.g., patient demographics, clinic work list – or outbound and inbound, e.g., document return)
Pilot stage (if applicable, please specify supplier, pilot duration, and scope)
Key internal stakeholder role/title
Desired features not currently delivered (optional)

5. Video Consultation

Name of supplier & product
Number of user licences
Procurement method (e.g., framework)
Contract start date
Contract expiry date (please specify fixed end date vs option to extend/rolling contract)
Total contract value (if available)
Integration with PAS/EPR (please specify if outbound only – e.g., patient demographics, clinic work list – or outbound and inbound, e.g., document return)
Key internal stakeholder role/title
Desired features not currently delivered (optional)
Average number of video appointments per month/year
% of virtual/remote consultations conducted using video vs telephone

6. Health Information Systems

Name of supplier & product of the following HIS:
PAS (Patient Administration System)
EPR (Electronic Patient Record)
eDMS (Electronic Document Management System)
RIS (Radiology Information System)
LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System)
e-Correspondence (e.g. Docman)
Hybrid Mail (e.g. Synertec, Healthcare Communications)
Patient Portal (e.g. Patient Knows Best)

Dear FOI Team,

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide the information held by the Trust for the following questions relating to digital transformation:

1. Core Digital Systems
Please provide a list of the Trust’s core clinical and operational systems (e.g., EPR, PAS, ED, theatres, e-rostering, diagnostics), including the system name, supplier and contract end dates.

2. System Infrastructure Model (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS)
Please confirm, for each of the Trust’s core clinical and operational systems listed in Question 1, the type of infrastructure model used:
• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
• Platform as a Service (PaaS)
• Software as a Service (SaaS)
• On-premise / locally hosted
If only partially held, please provide whatever information is available
3. Digital Priorities & Transformation Initiatives
Please provide details of the Trust’s current digital transformation priorities and any major programmes underway (e.g., EPR optimisation, cloud migration, AI, automation, data platform development).

4. Use of Emerging Technology
Please provide information on any current or planned use of artificial intelligence (AI), automation, machine learning, or advanced analytics tools within the Trust.

5. Digital Transformation Contact
Please provide the name, job title, and email address of the person (or team) responsible for leading the Trust’s digital transformation or digital strategy (e.g., CIO, CDIO, CCIO, Director of Digital).

I would be grateful if you could provide the requested information electronically. If the Trust requires any clarification, please let me know.

Yours sincerely,

Question
1. For each of the elements below, please provide details about your cloud provider: Main provider Total annual spend 2025/2026 (£) Contract end date Additional notes
Data storage
Networking
Back-up and archive
Application databases
Big Data analytics databases
Email

2. For each of the network supply systems listed below, please provide the requested details: Main supplier Total annual spend 2025/2026 (£) Contract end date Additional notes
Mobile telecoms
Data network (broadband)
DEFINITION: Broadband is the actual internet connection afforded by your internet service provider (ISP), which you can access directly via a LAN or ethernet connection between your modem and device
WiFi (hardware)
DEFINITION: Wifi is a wireless connection between multiple devices and your router, and just one of the ways you can access the internet
CoIN (if applicable) – Community of Interest Network
WAN (Wide Area Network)
DEFINITION: WANs connect users and applications in geographically dispersed locations
LAN (Local Area Network)
DEFINITION: LANs connect users and applications in close geographical proximity (same building)
VPN provider
Other (please specify)

3. Please supply the following details regarding your servers: Main supplier Total annual spend 2025/2026 (£) Contract end date Additional notes

4. For each element of IT infrastructure below, please provide the requested details: Main provider Total annual spend 2025/2026 (£) Contract end date Additional notes
Desktop management
Networking
Data Centre: hardware
Server management
IT/cyber security support supplier?

5a: What percentage of your servers are virtualised? % Virtualised Main supplier Additional notes

DEFINITION: A virtual server re-creates the functionality of a dedicated physical server. It exists transparently to users as a partitioned space inside a physical server.

5b: In relation to your trust’s virtual servers please provide the requested information: Number of servers Owned or Leased Average age of servers Main supplier Annual spend 2025/2026 (£) Additional notes

6a: Does your trust have any virtualised desktops? Main product Main Supplier Total annual spend 2025/2026 (£) Number of virtual desktops Contract end date Additional notes
DEFINITION: A virtual desktop is a preconfigured image of operating systems and applications in which the desktop environment is separated from the physical device used to access it. Users can access their virtual desktops remotely over a network.

6b: If your organisation does not have virtualised desktops, are you planning to implement any within the next two years? Yes/No Preferred supplier Expected number Additional notes
Where you plan to implement new virtualised desktops, please provide details as requested

7: Please outline your trust’s WiFi coverage for each element listed below Patient WiFi coverage Staff WiFi coverage Additional notes
Community wide (e.g. CoIN – Community of Interest Network)
Enterprise wide (whole campus)
Main building only
Sections of building(s) only
Mobile phone signal enabled through WiFi
No wireless networks are used in the trust

Dear FOI Officer,
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am writing to request the following information:
Provider 1
1. What is the name of your Nurses Job Planning software provider? (None if software not used)
2. When did the contract for this provider start? (dd/mm/yyyy) (None if software not used)
3. When does the contract for this provider expire? (dd/mm/yyyy) (None if software not used)
Provider 2 (If applicable)
4. What is the name of your second Nurses Job Planning software provider? (If you have more than one provider)
5. When did the contract for this second provider start? (dd/mm/yyyy)
6. When does the contract for this second provider expire? (dd/mm/yyyy)
Provider 3 (If applicable)
7. What is the name of your third Nurses Job Planning software provider? (If you have more than one provider)
8. When did the contract for this third provider start? (dd/mm/yyyy)
9. When does the contract for this third provider expire? (dd/mm/yyyy)
Additional
10. What was the Trust’s total spend on Nurses Job Planning fees in 2024 (excluding implementation)?
11. What was the Trust’s total spend on Nurses Job Planning fees in 2025 (excluding implementation)?
12. What is the number of contracted licences for Trust’s Nurses Job Planning provider?
Kind regards,