NHS England South West, in partnership with healthcare scientists at the University of the West of England, has launched a ground-breaking innovation lab in Bristol to help revolutionise healthcare across the region.

The lab is a fully equipped replica GP surgery, designed not to treat patients, but to test cutting-edge technology that can transform how care is delivered.

Run at the University of the West of England, it offers a safe space for doctors, nurses, and clinical teams to explore and adopt digital tools that improve services, access, and patient outcomes.

As part of the NHS’s 10-year plan to shift to digital-first care, the lab will trial innovations such as AI-powered virtual assistants that take notes during consultations and automatically handle follow-ups, and smart monitoring devices to track long-term conditions like hypertension at home.

The aim? To free up GP time, reduce unnecessary appointments, and give patients more control over their health – while ensuring services are sustainable for the future.

This is the NHS learning from the best of banking, retail, and aviation to tackle today’s healthcare challenges with tomorrow’s technology.

Learn more about this work.