Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust has unveiled a pioneering AI strategy aimed at revolutionising paediatric care through safe, ethical, and effective use of artificial intelligence.
The strategy will empower staff, enhance diagnostics, and improve outcomes for children and young people by embedding AI across clinical and operational services. It positions Alder Hey as a national and international leader in paediatric AI healthcare.
The new strategy will:
- Automate admin tasks and support clinical decision-making
- Revolutionise diagnostics using AI in imaging, genomics, rare disease detection, and neurodevelopmental care
- Enhance patient experience with virtual assistants for families, symptom checkers, and appointment reminders
- Improve outcomes through predictive analytics for early diagnosis, deterioration risk, and readmission prevention
- Support staff with AI tools like speech-to-text documentation and smart summaries
Alder Hey has already piloted Lyrebird, an AI scribe funded by Alder Hey Children’s Charity. It records consultations and generates clinical notes, letters, and summaries—freeing up clinicians to focus on patients.
Katie Warriner, Chief Transformation and Digital Officer at Alder Hey, said:
“AI is no longer a vision of the future – it is here, and it is already transforming the way we live and work. Through our strategy, we are making a bold and exciting commitment to harness the power of AI to empower children, young people, families, and our colleagues at Alder Hey.
“Our innovative approach is already delivering meaningful benefits. Looking ahead, AI will support our teams by simplifying routine tasks, offering real-time insights and predictions, and automating notifications. This will help reduce burnout and free up more time for colleagues to focus on what matters most – delivering exceptional care to the children and young people we serve."
With over 11,000 consultations recorded so far, Lyrebird has improved staff experience, reduced admin burden, and enhanced the accuracy of patient records.
The AI strategy supports the NHS 10-Year Health Plan, announced by Health Secretary Wes Streeting in July 2025, which calls for modernising the NHS through digital innovation and AI.
All AI tools at Alder Hey are developed in line with national clinical safety and data protection standards, ensuring patient data remains secure and ethically managed.
Image credit: iStock
