Helping services across Berkshire Healthcare reduce manual work through governed automation, Power Platform and emerging agentic AI
Blueprint for safe Intelligent Automation in the NHS
Berkshire Healthcare’s Intelligent Automation blueprint explains how automation ideas move from service need to safe live operation.
The programme was built around secure foundations, governance, technical standards and controlled delivery.
What the blueprint covers
The blueprint covers:
- identifying suitable automation opportunities
- understanding service readiness
- designing the process with the service
- checking governance requirements
- building and testing the automation
- releasing safely into production
- monitoring live performance
- managing exceptions and issues
- reviewing benefits after go-live
Design principles
Our automation blueprint is based on five principles:
- Start with the service problem.
Automation should solve a real operational issue, not simply introduce technology. - Keep people accountable.
Services remain responsible for their processes, decisions and business continuity. - Build reusable patterns.
The programme is moving away from “one request, one robot” towards reusable automation patterns that can be applied safely across services. - Use evidence to show value.
Benefits should be forecast, validated and reviewed using service evidence wherever possible. - Support safely after go-live.
Automation needs monitoring, issue handling, change control and periodic review.
From RPA to an intelligent automation model and agentic development
Traditional RPA remains useful, especially where systems do not provide modern integration routes. However, the programme is evolving into a broader digital workforce model that includes stronger governance, reusable components, Power Platform, AI-assisted development and improved assurance. Internal material describes this direction as a governed digital workforce model balancing innovation with NHS-level safety, assurance and control.