The NHS has rolled out High Intensity Use (HIU) services to support more than 125 emergency departments across England so far, providing patients with one-to-one coaching support in their own homes to tackle the root cause of why they are visiting A&E.

Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive, said: ‘We know that a small proportion of the population are much more likely to use A&E or ambulance services, so it is important we give them the targeted support they need this winter before they get to the front door of an emergency service - this is much better for them but will also help to relieve pressure on the NHS.

‘Initiatives like using AI to spot those who may need extra support in the community help provide more personalised care and must be central to our 10-Year Health Plan.'

Over 360,000 patients attend A&E more than five times every year.

Intervention initiatives have helped reduce the number of frequent attendances by more than half in some parts of the country. South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust recruited a dedicated keyworker to offer social, practical and emotional support to 20 HIU individuals and helped them more than halve their visits to A&E - down from 33 times per year.

In north east London, teams are harnessing the power of AI technology to predict those patients who are at risk of frequently attending A&E.

The AI-powered prediction software uses routinely collected hospital data to identify patients who require immediate preventative support to avoid future, unplanned visits to the hospital. This includes supporting patients with long-term conditions, like asthma or diabetes, and having a healthcare professional reach out to them to offer them personalised, preventative support and self-management techniques.