The UK government has established a new National Commission, bringing together clinical leaders, patient advocates, and major technology companies, including Google and Microsoft, to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across the NHS and create the world’s most AI-enabled healthcare system.
The UK National Commission on the Regulation of AI in Healthcare will advise the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on revising the regulatory rulebook for AI in healthcare, which is set to be published next year.
The Commission will immediately review technologies currently hindered by regulatory uncertainty, including AI assistants that assist doctors by taking notes during consultations. Early trials of Ambient Voice Technology have shown that it reduces the administrative burden, allowing more patients to be seen in accident and emergency departments while enabling clinicians to focus more time on patient care.
“AI has incredible potential to help doctors spot and treat diseases earlier,” said Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall. “But we need experts to come together so patients can benefit from these opportunities quickly and safely. This Commission will ensure the UK leads the way in making these game-changing technologies available in the safest possible way, helping more of us to lead healthy, longer lives and supporting our NHS.”
The Commission will be chaired by Professor Alastair Denniston, a practising NHS clinician and head of the UK’s Centre of Excellence in Regulatory Science in AI & Digital Health, with Professor Henrietta Hughes, the Patient Safety Commissioner, serving as deputy chair.
Health Innovation Minister Zubir Ahmed emphasised the transformative potential of the initiative. “AI has the potential to transform healthcare, but only if we get the regulation right,” Ahmed said. “This Commission will ensure we harness the power of artificial intelligence to save lives and improve care, whilst maintaining the highest safety standards our patients deserve.”
The regulatory framework will provide clarity on various AI tools, including those for radiology and pathology, as well as remote monitoring systems supporting virtual patient care from home. These systems can alert healthcare staff to early signs of patient deterioration while helping people maintain independence.
AI is already demonstrating a significant impact across the NHS. The technology is used to analyse acute stroke brain scans in 100 per cent of stroke units in England, supporting doctors in diagnosis and treatment decisions. Through the AI Diagnostic Fund, 50 per cent of hospital trusts now deploy AI to help diagnose conditions, including lung cancer. Research indicates that hospitals using AI-supported diagnostics have seen a 42 per cent reduction in diagnostic errors.
“This Commission marks a vital step in ensuring the UK leads the way in responsible innovation, and in accelerating the availability of AI technologies that can support better health for everyone,” said Denniston. “By bringing together diverse expertise we can build a regulatory framework for AI that is trusted by the public and health professionals, and delivers real benefits for patients.”
The Commission includes representatives from major technology firms, leading researchers, patient safety experts and international healthcare AI specialists. Members include Professor Neil Lawrence from the University of Cambridge and DeepMind, Dr Brian Anderson from the Coalition for Health AI, and Dr Barry Stein from Hartford HealthCare in Connecticut.
Lawrence Tallon, Chief Executive of the MHRA, said the initiative aims to ensure regulation moves at the pace of innovation whilst maintaining patient safety and public confidence. The MHRA will act on Commission recommendations to support the NHS’s digital transformation and advance the UK’s ambition to become a global hub for health technology investment.
The Commission will launch a formal call for evidence following the initial announcement, inviting contributions from across the UK and internationally to help shape recommendations addressing the most pressing challenges in AI regulation.
Supported by the Health Foundation as a research partner, the Commission’s work will directly enable key commitments in the government’s 10-Year Health Plan for England and Life Sciences Sector Plan, transforming the NHS for patient benefit whilst driving economic growth in the UK’s life sciences sector.
