Artificial intelligence patient who can see and talk used at Furness College

Students from Furness College pictured with Alex back left in the hospital bed and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Foundation Trust chief executive Aaron Cummins (middle back)

The leader of the local hospitals trust was introduced to Furness College’s artificial intelligence patient as he officially opened a new skills suite.

T-level students at the college carried out a health assessment on Alex – an artificial intelligence patient who can see listen and talk – responding to life-like scenarios on a hospital ward.

Alex is part of a total investment of around £70,000 by the college on the new state-of-the-art Clinical Skills Suite facility at Channelside, which was officially opened by University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Foundation Trust chief executive Aaron Cummins.

Aaron spoke to the T-level health students watching them in action diagnosing Alex and speaking to them about their upcoming placement at Furness General Hospital.

“Facilities like this are absolutely superb,” he said. “Just walking around now and getting a sense of how the students are interacting and the kind of equipment you have got I absolutely know when you start your nursing career you will be a jump ahead so these T-levels are fantastic.”

Assistant Principal Sue Hannan welcomed everyone to the new resource that was put together with the vision of lecturer Barry Atkinson and his team.

“I have to say I enjoyed watching this come together, my nursing heart got quite excited with the new kit,” she said.

“I remember being dumped on a ward and told talk to this patient for an hour and we will come back for you, now I could practice those skills here first.

Aaron was joined by Ray Olive of UHMBT who is National Chair for the T-level Ambassadors Network and guests Leah Emerson and Nigel Johnson from Risedale Estates.

The Clinical Skills Suite, funded with a special grant from the Department for Education and college funds, has been fully-equipped with the latest high-tech kit including a VR headset, cardiovascular equipment, blood pressure machines and Covid-19 swab testing training models.

Sue added: “The suite will help prepare all our students for placements and employment, including our apprentices and degree students.”

T-levels are technical qualifications that are equivalent to three A levels and the college offers T-levels in Health, Education & Childcare, Digital, Science and Engineering and Manufacturing from September 2022.