NHS London has launched an AI framework to help the NHS across the capital use artificial intelligence (AI) safely and ethically.
It sets out an agreed way of introducing, using and monitoring AI products and offers a way to consistently harness the benefits of AI across the NHS in London.
The NHS AI Framework for London also covers the issue of staff and patient trust, which NHS London describes as ‘critical to the success of AI’. This includes ensuring robust processes to address risks, issues and concerns if they are raised.
Dr Chris Streather, regional medical director and chief clinical information officer at NHS England, said: ‘Demand for NHS services continues to increase and AI has real potential to deliver tangible transformation to improve how we can support people who need care and treatment.’
Andrew Bland, chief executive of NHS South East London integrated care board (ICB) said AI offered ‘a huge opportunity’.
‘Through using this framework, all partners will be able to share information on AI programmes and how well any tools are doing so that we can learn from one another and improve or respond to concerns rapidly. We will be able to create better services for our residents and help ensure better value for taxpayers by doing it once and sharing far and wide,’ he said.
Sigal Hachlili Dwyer, director of AI, data and digital innovation at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, said while AI could change how the NHS provides care, it also brings risk.
‘This framework gives us an important and consistent way of supporting the safe and effective introduction and use of these tools. Security and careful management of these products has been paramount in our work and I’m pleased to see us all tackling this head-on in the framework,’ she said.
The NHS AI Framework for London covers five key areas:
- Partnership principles on working across organisations to align approaches, share information/ expertise and improve efficiency by reducing duplication
- Infrastructure, data and information governance arrangements needed to implement AI tools
- Use cases – areas where AI products are available, which may address identified challenges in the NHS
- AI delivery approach to ensure the system works together to pilot, implement and monitor AI in a consistent way
- Communication and workforce development to ensure there is trust from patients and staff in the use of AI
The framework has been developed through a series of collaborative workshops with digital leaders from NHS South East London, AI experts, the AI Centre for Value-Based Healthcare and the Health Innovation Network.
The NHS AI Framework for London is available here.
