Pictured above: Dr David Hardman MBE, Chief Executive Officer, Birmingham Science Park Aston with Joseph Wilson, co-founder of Pieta Informatics

A technology business based at Birmingham Science Park Aston (BSPA) has developed an innovative product that could revolutionise patient care in hospitals.

Process control company Pieta Informatics is hoping that its flagship Pieta software product - designed to free up clinical staff in hospitals, allowing them to focus on patient care rather than ward logistics - could create in the region of 500 jobs over the next five years.

By using advanced mathematical models and powerful artificial intelligence systems to streamline the logistics process, medical staff are able to allocate a more considerable level of resource to patient care, reducing the amount of time that a patient spends in hospital by up to 30 per cent.

Established just over a year ago by Joseph Wilson and Craig Burke, Pieta Informatics has already signed a contract with Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, to provide their Pieta system over a six month period and evaluate its success.

Joseph Wilson, co-founder of Pieta Informatics, said: "Every patient admitted to hospital travels along a treatment pathway.  Currently the length of time taken to move patients along this path is significantly longer than it needs to be and clinical staff commit considerable resources to managing and coordinating patients and equipment than is really necessary.

"By using powerful real-time control systems, fronted with an extremely simple and user-friendly interface, Pieta frees clinical staff to spend more providing care for patients. This means that not only do patients spend less time in hospital and receive an improved quality of care, but the hospital also saves money.

"We are using truly cutting edge technology and Pieta actually utilises the same level of mathematics and artificial intelligence as aerospace and military aviation system."

Pieta Informatics is a member of BSPA's hugely successful Entrepreneurs for the Future (e4f) business incubator programme, which supports technology start-up companies in achieving growth and commercial success by providing funding support, expert advice and mentoring for up to six months.

Companies taking part in the programme also benefit from office or desk space, alongside access to telephone and internet services.

Pieta's vision is to establish a real-time control centre based at Birmingham Science Park within the next 5 years, providing real-time process control support to a number of sectors including the NHS, manufacturing and logistics.

Dr David Hardman, Chief Executive Officer, Birmingham Science Park Aston, said: "Pieta Informatics will make a genuine contribution to healthcare management and their product has the potential for widespread adoption not just in the UK, but around the world.  

"I am exceptionally pleased that Joseph and Craig have been able to take part in our e4f incubator programme and I hope that they will stay with us at the Park and we will be able to work together well into the future."

Based at BSPA, the e4f incubation scheme is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Since launching in November 2009, the e4f programme has contributed to the creation of 35 new innovative businesses in Birmingham and over 40 new jobs. This number will continue to grow as companies like Pieta Informatics develop and take on new staff. 

Following the launch of the programme's third phase earlier this year, e4f is now looking for more start-ups to join what is fast becoming the centre of Birmingham's tech community.