AI could soon answer social care calls across the south coast in bid to cut pressure on services
West Sussex County Council is hoping to be one of the first in the UK to roll out the service
West Sussex County Council is hoping to be one of the first in the country to use AI software to ease pressure on social care, Greatest Hits Radio has been told.
The council have been looking at bringing in an AI service which can take down health care information and redirect people to the right services quicker.
It's also hoped to make it easier for family members calling on behalf of loved ones to get support.
The move comes days after reports that councils across England could be looking at an 81% overspend on their social care budgets.
Amanda Jupp, West Sussex County Council's Cabinet Member for Adults, said:
"They can speak into the AI and say all the information about care needs and what they struggle with, and AI can produce that in a report in double quick time, which I think is marvellous.
"It's a great tool to help people, save time, and my take on it is that it makes everything much more fluid. Everything is treated in the same way."
But "it won't take over" from human staff, she assured: "There will still be somebody at the end of the line to speak to.
"We won't just become an automated service."
There's not yet a date for the roll out of the service - but meetings are currently taking place discussing its potential.