Latest news with #Sammut
North Wales Chronicle
18-07-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
NHS 111 Wales launches new AI-powered virtual assistant
The tool aims to improve online health advice by helping users navigate the website more easily and efficiently. The Welsh Ambulance Service, which hosts the NHS 111 Wales service, developed the assistant as part of ongoing efforts to enhance digital services. Jonny Sammut, director of digital services at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: "111 prides itself on providing healthcare advice you can trust, which is why improving our digital offer is a piece of work which never stops. "We also recognise that there's a vast amount of information on the 111 website which can be tricky to navigate, especially when you're feeling unwell. "The virtual assistant helps you find answers by scanning the website for you, whether that's about a rash, sting, fever, toothache – or whatever it is that's making you feel poorly." The AI-powered assistant responds to user prompts and searches the website for relevant information, offering real-time guidance in multiple languages. Mr Sammut said: "This real-time access to health advice not only offers a more user-friendly experience but also enables people to make more informed decisions about their health. "Key to its success is feedback from the public, so we'd encourage anyone who uses the virtual assistant to spare us a moment at the end of the interaction to tell us what they thought." The Welsh Ambulance Service developed the assistant in partnership with Robotics AI and DRUID AI. Raj Sharma, vice president of sales UKI at DRUID AI, said: "At DRUID AI, we are proud to collaborate with the Welsh Ambulance Service and Robotics AI to revolutionise patient interactions with the NHS 111 Wales service. "Our AI-driven agent is designed to elevate patient experience, ensuring that individuals receive real-time health information in a seamless, intuitive manner. "This AI-powered solution not only improves the patient experience by delivering timely and personalised interactions, but also enhances operational efficiency by alleviating pressure on call centres." Russell Lawrie, chief executive of Robotics AI, said: "We are thrilled to partner with WAST and DRUID AI to deliver a transformative solution that not only improves access to healthcare information but also supports WAST's mission to provide equitable and efficient care for the Welsh population."
Rhyl Journal
18-07-2025
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
NHS 111 Wales launches new AI-powered virtual assistant
The tool aims to improve online health advice by helping users navigate the website more easily and efficiently. The Welsh Ambulance Service, which hosts the NHS 111 Wales service, developed the assistant as part of ongoing efforts to enhance digital services. Jonny Sammut, director of digital services at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: "111 prides itself on providing healthcare advice you can trust, which is why improving our digital offer is a piece of work which never stops. "We also recognise that there's a vast amount of information on the 111 website which can be tricky to navigate, especially when you're feeling unwell. "The virtual assistant helps you find answers by scanning the website for you, whether that's about a rash, sting, fever, toothache – or whatever it is that's making you feel poorly." The AI-powered assistant responds to user prompts and searches the website for relevant information, offering real-time guidance in multiple languages. Mr Sammut said: "This real-time access to health advice not only offers a more user-friendly experience but also enables people to make more informed decisions about their health. "Key to its success is feedback from the public, so we'd encourage anyone who uses the virtual assistant to spare us a moment at the end of the interaction to tell us what they thought." The Welsh Ambulance Service developed the assistant in partnership with Robotics AI and DRUID AI. Raj Sharma, vice president of sales UKI at DRUID AI, said: "At DRUID AI, we are proud to collaborate with the Welsh Ambulance Service and Robotics AI to revolutionise patient interactions with the NHS 111 Wales service. "Our AI-driven agent is designed to elevate patient experience, ensuring that individuals receive real-time health information in a seamless, intuitive manner. "This AI-powered solution not only improves the patient experience by delivering timely and personalised interactions, but also enhances operational efficiency by alleviating pressure on call centres." Russell Lawrie, chief executive of Robotics AI, said: "We are thrilled to partner with WAST and DRUID AI to deliver a transformative solution that not only improves access to healthcare information but also supports WAST's mission to provide equitable and efficient care for the Welsh population."
Leader Live
18-07-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
NHS 111 Wales launches new AI-powered virtual assistant
The tool aims to improve online health advice by helping users navigate the website more easily and efficiently. The Welsh Ambulance Service, which hosts the NHS 111 Wales service, developed the assistant as part of ongoing efforts to enhance digital services. Jonny Sammut, director of digital services at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: "111 prides itself on providing healthcare advice you can trust, which is why improving our digital offer is a piece of work which never stops. "We also recognise that there's a vast amount of information on the 111 website which can be tricky to navigate, especially when you're feeling unwell. "The virtual assistant helps you find answers by scanning the website for you, whether that's about a rash, sting, fever, toothache – or whatever it is that's making you feel poorly." The AI-powered assistant responds to user prompts and searches the website for relevant information, offering real-time guidance in multiple languages. Mr Sammut said: "This real-time access to health advice not only offers a more user-friendly experience but also enables people to make more informed decisions about their health. "Key to its success is feedback from the public, so we'd encourage anyone who uses the virtual assistant to spare us a moment at the end of the interaction to tell us what they thought." The Welsh Ambulance Service developed the assistant in partnership with Robotics AI and DRUID AI. READ MORE: Odds-on that Wrexham's Tomasi was going to win a national competition! Raj Sharma, vice president of sales UKI at DRUID AI, said: "At DRUID AI, we are proud to collaborate with the Welsh Ambulance Service and Robotics AI to revolutionise patient interactions with the NHS 111 Wales service. "Our AI-driven agent is designed to elevate patient experience, ensuring that individuals receive real-time health information in a seamless, intuitive manner. "This AI-powered solution not only improves the patient experience by delivering timely and personalised interactions, but also enhances operational efficiency by alleviating pressure on call centres." Russell Lawrie, chief executive of Robotics AI, said: "We are thrilled to partner with WAST and DRUID AI to deliver a transformative solution that not only improves access to healthcare information but also supports WAST's mission to provide equitable and efficient care for the Welsh population."
7NEWS
03-05-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
Jon Sammut: Triathlete walks for first time after life-altering bike crash during Busselton Ironman
Triathlete Jon Sammut, who faced the possibility of having his leg amputated after a life-altering bike crash, has walked independently for the first time in five months. The 27-year-old had to be flown to Royal Perth Hospital on December 1 after accidentally pedalling into a bollard at 50km/h during the annual Busselton Ironman. He spent three months in hospital, where he underwent 15 leg surgeries and relied on his wheelchair for movement. But two months after being discharged, Sammut has walked without crutches for the first time. 'It's been quite a long road since coming out of the hospital and coming out of the wheelchair,' the Attadale athlete told PerthNow. 'I've come a pretty long way. I am elated really to be able to walk without crutches, it was just massive.' But only a few weeks prior, Sammut was convinced he would need the help of crutches indefinitely. 'All of the bones in my leg were still the same level of brokenness since the accident and they're all just sort of floating around in my leg, so it would have felt like I was stepping on eggshells,' he said. 'I've been doing a bone correction program for the last month. The pain increased significantly for the first couple of weeks but then the pain started to come down and it's made me confident enough to put weight through my leg. 'I was thinking I would never come off crutches because everything was just so unstable, or I'm probably going to need a walking stick. 'There was a lot of doubt in my head about where everything was heading, so it was nice to see that I can do it.' The first surgery after the incident saved the young athlete's life, because his femoral artery was almost cut in the crash. He described waking up from that surgery as extremely emotional given he had been told amputation was a real possibility. 'I snapped my femur as bad as you can,' Sammut said. 'The orthopaedic surgeon said it's one of the worst ones he has seen because one side of the bone was protruding through my hamstring and the other side was protruding through my quad outside my leg. 'I also detached my ACL from my leg, and broke my tibia and fibula to similar extents. 'My good leg, which is also not so good, has a grade 2 ACL tear and I will need to have surgery on that at some stage also.' Sammut told PerthNow he had put his head down briefly while riding during the Busselton race as he attempted to chase down the leaders after a 3.9km swim leg. 'I came straight off the bike and I felt the full impact of the bollard hit my legs,' he said. 'Then I tried to get up but I couldn't feel my legs, other than them being in a lot of pain. 'But I could see my ankle was facing the other way and was underneath my other leg and I could feel I had a lot of bones misplaced.' Sammut knows there is still a long way to go but he is keeping positive and hoping he can avoid surgery number 16. 'My whole recovery is just to keep moving forward and look ahead and be positive and not dwell on the past and really try keep getting that little bit better each day,' he said. 'There's still a long way to go to be able to walk fully but five steps today could mean 10 steps next week.' Sammut isn't thinking about his future as a competitive athlete, instead concentrating on looking forward to being able to socially exercise with friends. 'A lot of my friends do cycling and a lot of my life is tied up with triathlon,' he said. 'I don't think triathlons are really on my bingo card at the moment so really all I want to be able to do is go for a bike ride with my friends or be able to go down to the beach and have a swim. 'I'd like to say that I want to get back into competitive sport but it's just too unknown at this stage and I really just want to appreciate having a healthy body. 'My injuries are so permanent that I'd be competing in the para-triathlon category and the way my mindset is now, I'm not prepared to devote a lot of my time and energy into para sports just yet. 'I just want to regain my life back and be able to do normal everyday stuff and if the time comes and I'm still young, maybe I can get into para sports and compete at the Paralympics, but I feel like I'm still a while away from making that decision.'
Perth Now
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
How Perth man nearly lost leg in horror triathlon bike crash
Triathlete Jon Sammut, who faced the possibility of having his leg amputated after a life-altering bike crash, has walked independently for the first time in five months. The 27-year-old had to be flown to Royal Perth Hospital on December 1 after accidentally pedalling into a bollard at 50km/h during the annual Busselton Ironman. He spent three months in hospital, where he underwent 15 leg surgeries and relied on his wheelchair for movement. But two months after being discharged, Sammut has walked without crutches for the first time. 'It's been quite a long road since coming out of the hospital and coming out of the wheelchair,' the Attadale athlete told PerthNow. 'I've come a pretty long way. I am elated really to be able to walk without crutches, it was just massive.' But only a few weeks prior, Sammut was convinced he would need the help of crutches indefinitely. 'All of the bones in my leg were still the same level of brokenness since the accident and they're all just sort of floating around in my leg, so it would have felt like I was stepping on eggshells,' he said. John Sammut. Credit: Instagram 'I've been doing a bone correction program for the last month. The pain increased significantly for the first couple of weeks but then the pain started to come down and it's made me confident enough to put weight through my leg. 'I was thinking I would never come off crutches because everything was just so unstable, or I'm probably going to need a walking stick. 'There was a lot of doubt in my head about where everything was heading, so it was nice to see that I can do it.' The first surgery after the incident saved the young athlete's life, because his femoral artery was almost cut in the crash. He described waking up from that surgery as extremely emotional given he had been told amputation was a real possibility. 'I snapped my femur as bad as you can,' Sammut said. 'The orthopaedic surgeon said it's one of the worst ones he has seen because one side of the bone was protruding through my hamstring and the other side was protruding through my quad outside my leg. 'I also detached my ACL from my leg, and broke my tibia and fibula to similar extents. 'My good leg, which is also not so good, has a grade 2 ACL tear and I will need to have surgery on that at some stage also.' Sammut told PerthNow he had put his head down briefly while riding during the Busselton race as he attempted to chase down the leaders after a 3.9km swim leg. 'I came straight off the bike and I felt the full impact of the bollard hit my legs,' he said. 'Then I tried to get up but I couldn't feel my legs, other than them being in a lot of pain. John Sammut. Credit: Instagram 'But I could see my ankle was facing the other way and was underneath my other leg and I could feel I had a lot of bones misplaced.' Sammut knows there is still a long way to go but he is keeping positive and hoping he can avoid surgery number 16. 'My whole recovery is just to keep moving forward and look ahead and be positive and not dwell on the past and really try keep getting that little bit better each day,' he said. 'There's still a long way to go to be able to walk fully but five steps today could mean 10 steps next week.' Sammut isn't thinking about his future as a competitive athlete, instead concentrating on looking forward to being able to socially exercise with friends. 'A lot of my friends do cycling and a lot of my life is tied up with triathlon,' he said. 'I don't think triathlons are really on my bingo card at the moment so really all I want to be able to do is go for a bike ride with my friends or be able to go down to the beach and have a swim. 'I'd like to say that I want to get back into competitive sport but it's just too unknown at this stage and I really just want to appreciate having a healthy body. 'My injuries are so permanent that I'd be competing in the para-triathlon category and the way my mindset is now, I'm not prepared to devote a lot of my time and energy into para sports just yet. 'I just want to regain my life back and be able to do normal everyday stuff and if the time comes and I'm still young, maybe I can get into para sports and compete at the Paralympics, but I feel like I'm still a while away from making that decision.'
