OneAdvanced buys Patchs to boost NHS AI triage tools

Healthcare software company OneAdvanced has acquired Patchs Health, an AI-based online consultation and triage provider used by almost 1,000 GP practices across the UK, as pressure grows on primary care to expand digital access for patients.

The deal brings Patchs' artificial intelligence triage, care navigation and ambient scribe technology into OneAdvanced's health portfolio, which already includes systems such as Docman, Adastra, Odyssey and the recently acquired INPS Vision electronic patient record platform.

Both companies work extensively with the NHS. OneAdvanced says its systems support more than 40 million patients in the UK, while Patchs' software is in use at GP practices serving over 10 million patients.

The value of the acquisition has not been disclosed. The companies announced that the transaction follows a four-year exclusive partnership and will sit at the centre of OneAdvanced's plans for what it calls a next-generation healthcare platform.

Digital demand

The move comes as general practice faces scrutiny over access and workload. GP contracts now require practices to offer all-day digital access, which has increased demand for online consultation tools and automated triage systems.

Patchs' technology uses AI to guide patients through online consultations and triage. The system captures consultations in real time and converts patient interactions into structured clinical records. It also automates documentation tasks that clinicians would otherwise complete manually.

OneAdvanced said it intends to integrate these tools with its existing workflow and record systems. The company positions this as a way to support a shift towards data-driven, personalised and more efficient care, aligned with long-term NHS digital strategies.

Ric Thompson, SVP of Health at OneAdvanced, said the combination of the two businesses creates a differentiated offering in the UK health IT market.

"AI triage, online consultation and the intelligent use of data are now essential to solving the NHS's access and workload challenges. With Patchs joining OneAdvanced, we become the only UK provider able to combine these capabilities with national-scale clinical systems and workflow automation. It's this depth of integrated data and technology that puts OneAdvanced in an unrivalled position to support the NHS to deliver upon the ambition of the 10-year plan through a single, intelligence-led platform," said Thompson.

AI and academic roots

Patchs Health was founded by a team of AI specialists from the University of Warwick. The founding group was led by chief executive Dr Marcus Ong and chief technology and science officer Dr Daniel Sprague, who set out to apply advanced AI and data science to operational challenges in healthcare.

In 2019 they were joined by practising NHS GP and Clinical Senior Lecturer at The University of Manchester, Dr Ben Brown. His experience in primary care informed Patchs' transition from a consultancy model into a focused healthcare software business.

Under the acquisition, the Patchs leadership team will take senior roles in OneAdvanced's healthcare innovation unit. The companies said this will allow closer alignment between data science, engineering and frontline clinical insight across OneAdvanced's health products.

The deal also secures Patchs' existing research links. The company has active academic partnerships with The University of Manchester and The University of Cambridge. It is currently involved in what it describes as the largest evaluation of AI in UK primary care, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

OneAdvanced said it will continue and extend these collaborations. The organisation intends to channel research outputs into software tools for clinicians, GP practices and NHS operational teams.

Productivity claims

Patchs markets its GP online consultation system as a way to improve practice productivity and patient access. The company cites usage data which it says shows a 75 per cent increase in GP productivity and a 43 per cent reduction in workloads at practices using its AI-based service.

Patchs also reports faster and more equitable access for patients through its online routes. It points to an average patient satisfaction score of 4.5 out of 5.0 on the Trustpilot review platform.

For GP practices, the company positions its AI triage and ambient scribe functions as methods of easing the early-morning rush for appointments. The stated aim is to smooth demand, reduce manual paperwork and route patients to the most appropriate professional or service.

Ong said the combination of OneAdvanced's installed base and Patchs' AI tools will broaden the reach of these services.

"The coming together of Patchs Health and OneAdvanced will bring immediate benefits to both healthcare providers and patients. By combining Patchs' AI innovation and academic research heritage with OneAdvanced's established clinical systems and national reach, we will accelerate the delivery of more efficient, intelligent and patient-centred services" Marcus Ong PhD FIMA, CEO of Patchs Health commented.

Ong said the acquisition would increase Patchs' impact across the primary care sector.

"Patchs was developed to help clinicians focus their time where it matters most, and this acquisition allows us to extend that impact across thousands of practices - underpinned by trusted, secure technology that meets recognised industry and compliance standards, ensuring patient safety is at its core. Together, we're in a strong position to drive the next phase of AI-led transformation in primary care at a time when demand and pressure are at their greatest," said Ong.