An AI programme led by Walsall Healthcare clinicians to bring “time and human connection back to patient care” has been shortlisted in the HSJ Awards 2026.

The Time to Care – AVT in Emergency Medicine approach is among finalists in the Using AI to Enhance Care Quality and Efficiency Award category.

Clinicians piloted the use of AVT (Ambient Voice Technology) using a transcription tool to listen to and transcribe patient consultations in real time, partnering with Heidi Health.

They wanted to find a way of ensuring they could give patients their full attention while maintaining safety and quality.

Dr Mohammed Jamil Aslam, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and the Trust’s Clinical Lead for Quality Improvement, led the pilot which ran in Walsall Manor Hospital’s Emergency Department, Medical Same Day Emergency Care, Dermatology, ENT and Audiology as well as Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Dr Aslam said: “To be shortlisted for this game changing project is fantastic – it recognises the huge impact that AVT can make in a healthcare setting using a safe, considered approach that is driven by patient care as the priority.

“The system captures the clinical consultation and automatically generates structured notes, clinic letters, and discharge summaries for clinicians to review for accuracy. It has significantly reduced admin time – a more than 60 per cent reduction in documentation time in the Emergency Department alone – and has given clinicians more time to focus on patient care as well as contributing to better staff wellbeing.”

HSJ editor Alastair McLellan said: “It always gives me great pleasure to congratulate our finalists at this stage of the judging process, and this year is no exception as we acknowledge Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust for being shortlisted. It’s always important to remember that the HSJ Awards are not just a celebration of success stories but also a platform to shape the future of the NHS.”

The selected winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at Evolution London on 19 November 2026. The event also serves as a timely and well-deserved thank you to the sector.

The awards’ judging panel was once again made up of a diverse range of highly influential and respected figures within the healthcare community, as well as a range of esteemed Board level Executives from NHS Trusts across the UK.