Not yet recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

OpRESTORE AI-Patient Navigator Study

The OpRESTORE service helps UK veterans with complex health problems linked to their military service. Currently, a team of doctors decides which treatments or specialists veterans need, which can be slow. This study is testing a new digital tool that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help make these decisions. The goal is to see if the AI can safely and accurately recommend the best care pathway, leading to quicker treatment and a better experience for veterans. If successful, this could help more veterans get the right care without long waits, making healthcare more efficient and potentially freeing up medical staff for other tasks. The study involves looking at past records, testing the AI alongside doctors, and comparing patient outcomes.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Enrolment target

1,389

Start

01 May 2026

Estimated completion

01 Nov 2027

Veteran

What is this study about?

The OpRESTORE service is a special NHS service for UK military veterans who have ongoing health issues because of their time in the armed forces. Many of these veterans need to see several different specialists, like surgeons, pain doctors, or rehabilitation teams, and sometimes mental health support too. At the moment, a team of doctors and health professionals – called a multidisciplinary team (MDT) – carefully discusses each veteran's case to decide the best path for their treatment. While this approach works well, it can sometimes take a long time and uses a lot of resources. Veterans might also find it tricky to understand and navigate.

This study is about creating and testing a new digital helper, which uses something called Artificial Intelligence or AI. Think of AI as a very clever computer program that can learn from lots of information. This AI tool is designed to help the OpRESTORE team decide which specialist or service would be best for each veteran. The main aim is to see if this computer tool can make the same good decisions as the team of doctors, but much faster and more efficiently.

The project has several steps. First, researchers will look at many past OpRESTORE patient records to help the AI learn. Then, they will 'shadow test' the AI, meaning it will make recommendations at the same time as the doctors, to see if they agree. Later, they will compare how veterans do if they were helped by the AI versus those who went through the usual doctor-led process. They will also try to make it easier for veterans to directly ask for help if they need it. The hope is that if this AI tool works well, it could help veterans get the right care much faster, improve their overall health, and make the best use of NHS resources.

Key takeaways

This study is testing an AI tool to speed up veteran healthcare.
The AI aims to help doctors decide the best treatment for veterans quickly.
It could mean faster access to specialist care for veterans.
The study involves looking at existing patient records and comparing AI decisions with doctor decisions.
No new medications or extra appointments are required.
Participation is voluntary and won't affect your care.

Who may be eligible?

To be able to take part in this study, you would generally need to be a veteran who has been referred to the OpRESTORE service for a physical health problem. You must be 18 years old or older and be able to understand the study and agree to take part.

This study is specifically looking at veterans with physical health needs, not those who only have mental health concerns or are seeking social care advice. Things like having a broken bone, ongoing pain, or needing rehabilitation after an injury would generally fit the criteria.

However, some people won't be able to join. This includes if your referral is handled in a very unusual way outside the normal process, if you can't give your consent to participate, or if you are currently in prison. Also, if you have a very urgent health problem that needs emergency care, OpRESTORE wouldn't be the right service for you, and so this study wouldn't be either.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a UK veteran?
Have you been referred to the OpRESTORE service?
Do you have a physical health problem (not just mental health)?
Are you 18 years old or older?
Are you able to understand and agree to take part in a study?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

This study won't involve you taking any new medication or having extra hospital visits just for the study. Instead, it will look at how the OpRESTORE service decides on your care pathway. If you agree to take part, the main thing is that the new AI tool will be used in the background to make recommendations for your care, which will then be compared to the decisions made by the usual team of doctors.

Researchers will collect information from your existing medical records about your health and how satisfied you are with your care. This might include questionnaires about your quality of life. The study will run for two years, and the information gathered during this time will help the researchers understand if the AI tool is effective.

Potential risks and benefits

The potential benefits of this study are that if the AI tool proves successful, it could mean faster access to the right treatment for veterans, improving their health and wellbeing, and making the OpRESTORE service more efficient. For you personally, your care will still be handled by the experienced OpRESTORE team, so you can be reassured you'll continue to receive the best advice. As the AI tool will first be tested alongside the doctor's team, there are no immediate risks that your care will be negatively affected by the AI. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without your care being affected.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

OpRESTORE, Imperial College Healthcare NHS trust
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is AI and how will it help me?

AI is a computer program that learns from information. In this study, it's designed to suggest the best treatment path for veterans, aiming for quicker and more accurate decisions.

Will the AI tool replace doctors?

No, the AI tool is there to support the doctors and healthcare team, not replace them. It's meant to help them make decisions more efficiently.

How will my personal information be handled?

Your past medical records will be used to help design the AI. All information will be handled confidentially and securely, protecting your privacy.

What if the AI makes a wrong decision?

Initially, the AI will be tested alongside the doctors, so any decisions it makes will be checked by them. Your care will always be overseen by medical professionals.

Do I have to take part in this study?

No, taking part is completely voluntary. Your decision will not affect the quality of care you receive from OpRESTORE.

How to find out more

Natalia L Sanchez-Thompson, MRCS MSc

natalia.sanchez-thompson@nhs.net +447791700255 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.