NHS to use AI-supported digital tools for accessing therapy services

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By Emma Wilkinson

The NHS can fund AI-supported digital tools to assess people for NHS Talking Therapies while it collects evidence on whether they save staff time and improve clinical decision making, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has said.

In draft guidance out for consultation, NICE recommended two tools that could be used as an option in the NHS as part of a 3-year programme to test their effectiveness.

Both Limbic Access and Wysa Digital Referral Assistant can be used to gather information for assessments ahead of patients accessing NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression.

Limited evidence so far suggests they may improve outcomes and workflow but more data on how much time is saved and the clinical impact is needed, NICE said.

The tools, which can be filled in as part of self-referral, may improve access to NHS Talking Therapies for those who prefer to use digital technology rather than traditional routes like GP referral, the consultation document states.