A former star of BBC’s The Apprentice who found fame for boardroom spats with fellow contestant Katie Hopkins believes his new business can save the NHS.
Adam Hosker was fired by Sir Alan Sugar during the third series of the TV show in 2007 but not before several high profile clashes with Hopkins, who criticised his “northernness” .
The entrepreneur says he’s still reminded of his brush with TV fame even now but says he is 100 per cent focused on growing his new business Alphabot Labs.
The start-up, set up in January 2019 and to be based in Leeds, uses AI to help clinicians by analysing a patient’s previous medical history to speed up diagnosis and save vital time for clinicians.
“Politicians are not going to solve the NHS’s problems so technology has to,” he said.
“There are three things the NHS needs; money, which isn’t there to give them, more staff which means more money, and time,” he said.
Yesterday entrepreneurial doctor Matt Orr wrote on our website how the NHS is under more pressure than it has ever been before and that he believes technology is the best medicine for improving efficiency.
Hosker said his fledgling company Alphabot Labs’ AI product, which is currently being developed, would provide clinicians with potentially life-saving information and give them more time to speak to patients.
He also thinks it would reduce the estimated £1.3bn the NHS pays out in medical negligence claims.
“Those claims are only really successful because the information was there and it wasn’t seen by someone,” the 40-year-old said.
This week NHS England unveiled its ten-year digital strategy and pledged to give all patients access to digital GP consultations within the next five years.
Hosker, who previously worked for Manchester-based big data and text analytics business Hello Soda, has long advocated the use of AI to improve healthcare.
“If we get this right we save the NHS millions of pounds, but more importantly we help the NHS save extra lives,” he added.
“This is the most important thing I’ve ever done – certainly a lot more important than my appearance on The Apprentice 12 years ago.”
The company, which is trying to raise £500,000 investment, will use the finances on R&D.
He hopes that the technology will eventually be used across the UK in the NHS, and could even be taken to the US.
He also hopes to expand from the current AI-based diagnosis tool to collaboration with other tech business to aid in the treatment process.