The NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) is planning a new framework agreement for AI in healthcare.
The framework, called the Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Solutions, will replace the AI Software in Neuroscience for Stroke Decision Support and AI Imaging and Radiotherapy Equipment frameworks, which are both due to expire in September 2025.
Though still under development, the framework it set to be split into six ‘lots’, including radiology and diagnostic imaging, predictive analytics and operational efficiency (see box for full list).
Those with an interest in AI or who are looking to implement it in the future have been asked to contribute to the framework agreement by the NHS SBS, which provides business support services to the NHS in England.
The framework agreement will be (provisionally) split into six lots:
Lot 1: Radiology and diagnostic imaging
Early detection and diagnostic through data analysis and medical imaging for radiology and diagnostic imaging such as neurology, oncology, cardiology, urology and ophthalmology.
Lot 2: Pathological diagnosis and early detection
Early detection and diagnostic through data analysis and medical imaging for pathology such as haematology, virology and dermatology.
Lot 3: Predictive analytics
Solutions which improve patient flow and experience by making well informed decisions based on health records (system interoperability), hospital admissions and discharge and patient appointments.
Lot 4: Research and development
Applications to support cross institution collaboration and research such as drug discovery and clinical trials.
Lot 5: Operational efficiency
Solutions to optimise clinical workflow such as resource management and supply chain management.
Lot 6: Specialist support
Artificial Intelligence specialist support such as consultancy, implementation and training.
Source: NHS SBS
Kelly Bevington, senior category manager for digital and IT at NHS SBS, said: ‘AI has the potential to transform NHS patient care, speeding up diagnosis and treatment times by ensuring that expert clinical resource is targeted where it has the greatest impact for the patient.
‘Our new framework agreement will focus on the application of AI in different specialities by providing new efficient ways to prevent, diagnose, treat illness and optimise clinical workflow.’
It comes after AI will be used to help detect breast cancer in 30 sites across the country as part of a new trial to test how AI tools can be used to help early diagnosis.
The Government has also set out a new AI action plan this year, to try and help the public sector spend less time on admin and more on delivering services. While health secretary Wes Streeting has previously said that shifting from analogue to digital is the priority within this parliament.
In November, research from Google suggested that greater use of AI could provide an extra 3.7 million GP appointments each week within 10 years.
