East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust has become the first NHS organisation in the country to pilot an AI tool called MEMORI, which was developed with the software company Sanome.
The Trust is the first to use the tool designed to strengthen infection control by helping clinicians identify patients at risk of developing infections before they show obvious signs of deterioration.
The technology, known as MEMORI, has been introduced by Harvey Ward at Kent and Canterbury Hospital as part of a pilot programme.
Embedded within the Trust's existing electronic patient record (EPR) system, the tool analyses routinely collected clinical data, including patient observations, medications and demographics, to generate an infection risk score and alert clinicians if that risk changes.
Rather than replacing clinical judgement, MEMORI is designed to support healthcare professionals by providing an additional layer of decision support alongside established monitoring systems such as the National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2).
News2 is a track-and-trigger system that was rolled out across Kent Hospitals and the wider NHS network between 2018 and 2019.
The News2 system aggregates six physiological measurements (such as breathing rate and oxygen levels) to identify patient deterioration.
The aim of the new MEMORI system is to enable earlier clinical review and intervention, helping to prevent patients from deteriorating and supporting more effective infection management.
The AI model has been trained using data from thousands of previous patients to identify patterns associated with developing infections.
By continuously analysing information already recorded within the patient's electronic record, it can highlight changes that may otherwise be difficult to detect during busy clinical shifts.
Goals of the pilot programme
The pilot is the result of a collaboration between the Trust and UK health technology company Sanome, with the software fully integrated into the Trust's Sunrise electronic patient record system.
Clinicians can access infection risk scores within the patient views they already use, including ward lists and tracker boards, without needing to switch between different applications.
As part of the evaluation, East Kent Hospitals will assess how the technology supports clinical workflows, patient safety and the early identification of infection.
The pilot will also examine how AI-enabled decision support can complement existing infection prevention and control measures while reducing the time clinicians spend manually reviewing patient records.
The trial reflects growing interest across the NHS in using regulated AI technologies to support earlier detection of patient deterioration and improve clinical decision-making.
If successful, the pilot could provide evidence for wider adoption of AI-powered infection surveillance tools across acute care settings, helping NHS organisations strengthen infection control and improve outcomes for patients.
"It has incredible potential in terms of recognising signs of infection early, alerting clinicians to review the patient and potentially change their treatment plan,” said Julie Jones, Ward Manager at Harvey Ward.
“Our patients can be very complex and can deteriorate quickly, so early intervention is vital and potentially life-saving.”
