AI-Powered Triage to Improve Access and Cut Waiting Times in Neurodevelopmental Care for CYP

Delays in accessing neurodevelopmental (ND) assessments—particularly for children and young people (CYP) with suspected autism, ADHD, or learning disabilities—are a persistent challenge across the NHS. Manual triage processes are time-consuming and place significant strain on overstretched clinical teams, resulting in inefficiencies, delayed care, and distress for families.? To address this, we propose the final development, deployment, and real-world evaluation of an?AI-powered triage tool integrated within the?EnrichMyCare?digital health platform. EnrichMyCare is already in clinical use across several NHS Trusts, including Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (DHCFT). It enables families to submit structured and unstructured referral information, including developmental history, concerns, and functional goals.? The AI tool enhances this by analysing referral data (tick boxes, clinical presentations, and free text) to identify support needs and guide referrals to the most appropriate clinic. It predicts the need for joint working across CAMHS, Early Years, and Neurodisability teams, and delivers personalised “waiting well” resources to families. The tool, currently at Technology Readiness Level 4, is designed to replace manual triage and accelerate service access.? The project includes:? 1.?Final development of the AI tool, including refinement of triage logic for risk stratification, cross-referral prediction, and personalised signposting.? 2.?Integration with DHCFT’s Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system to enable seamless workflow use. 3. A?prospective, real-world pilot involving 50 families, to evaluate tool performance against clinician-led triage.? The scientific approach includes?parallel comparison of AI-generated triage outputs with clinician decisions. Evaluation metrics will include:? •?Time to triage •?Appropriateness of referral direction •?Patient flow and service throughput •?Concordance rate (target >85%) between AI and clinician decisions •?Family experience and engagement •?Relevance and uptake of self-management content •?Impact on preparation for key assessments Qualitative feedback from clinicians and families will assess usability, confidence in the tool, and its effect on decision-making and workflow. A formal?outcomes framework?will be developed to track performance over time, enabling future benchmarking and commissioning use.? This evaluation builds on a 2024 pilot showing a 40% reduction in clinical triage time using earlier features of the EnrichMyCare platform. Unlike exploratory research, this project represents a?deployment-ready intervention?focused on implementation and service-level impact. Training for clinicians and families will be delivered alongside the rollout. DHCFT will serve as a?model implementation site?for the Midlands, with lessons shared through structured knowledge exchange, regional digital leads, and national webinars. Other Trusts facing high ND demand have already expressed interest in adoption. An impact report will also support engagement with national policymakers, including input into the 2027 National Autism Strategy.? This FAST-funded project bridges the gap between innovation and scalable service delivery. It offers a targeted solution to reduce ND delays, streamline workflows, and provide proactive support to families. It de-risks wider NHS adoption of a platform already in use, enabling real-world gains in access, quality, and efficiency of ND care.