Artificial intelligence has potential to offer benefits to patients, but concerns must be addressed

Responding to new polling from the Health Foundation into the attitudes of NHS staff and the public on using artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

“AI has the potential to offer major benefits to patients, staff and healthcare, particularly at a time when the NHS workforce and frontline services continue to be under major strain.

“This data shows NHS staff support for the role AI could play in healthcare and in helping them to do their jobs. But there is also scepticism and concern amongst some patients and staff about the impact on care quality, the accuracy of decision making by AI and worries that care could become less personal.

“It is vital that as new technologies are developed and rolled out, the needs of patients and their families are put front and centre to ensure these new services are trusted and that risks are mitigated.

“It is also important that the opportunities presented by AI advances to transform care for patients and improve access to services do not come at the expense of critical investment in core NHS digital and IT infrastructure or in developing the skills of staff who will need to adapt to these new ways of working.”