Peterborough City Council has turned the knowledge of veteran therapy practitioner Geraldine Jinks into an AI chatbot to support adult social care workers.
After 35 years of experience, colleagues frequently approached Jinks seeking advice, leading to time pressures despite her willingness to help.
In response, the council developed a digital assistant called Hey Geraldine, which mimics her direct and friendly communication style to provide instant support to staff.
Developed in 2023, the chatbot offers practical answers to everyday care-related questions, such as how to support patients with memory issues or discharge planning. Jinks collaborated with the tech team to train the AI, writing all the responses herself to ensure consistency and clarity.
Thanks to its natural tone and humanlike advice, some colleagues even mistook the chatbot for the honest Geraldine.
The council hopes Hey Geraldine will reduce hospital discharge delays and improve patient access to assistive technology. Councillor Shabina Qayyum, who also works as a GP, said the tool empowers staff to help patients regain independence instead of facing unnecessary delays.
The chatbot is seen as preserving valuable institutional knowledge while improving frontline efficiency.
