Healthcare is undergoing a transformative era, with AI revolutionising diagnostics, personalised treatments, and medical innovation. In the UK, the NHS and tech companies are driving these advancements to enhance patient care. 

🤔Our Thoughts 

Doctors are uniquely positioned to benefit from AI’s rapid advancements. Tools capable of analysing complex data, detecting illnesses early, and predicting outcomes with precision are reshaping medicine. The UK’s strong research base, robust health infrastructure, and thriving tech sector position it as a leader in this revolution. These changes mark the beginning of a new era, offering opportunities to improve patient care and transform healthcare. 

AI won’t replace doctors but will serve as an essential tool in daily practice—accelerating diagnoses, predicting outcomes more accurately, and personalising treatments efficiently. To maximise its potential, doctors must actively engage in its adoption and development. 

🤖The Doctor’s Role in AI 

Understanding AI extends beyond using tools—it involves evaluating their safety, ethics, and effectiveness. Doctors, with their clinical expertise, are essential for identifying data gaps and biases, ensuring AI systems are built to serve patients ethically. Our ability to empathise and consider patient histories offers a perspective that algorithms cannot replicate, ensuring nuanced decisions remain a core strength of human clinicians. 

Collaboration with developers is crucial. By contributing insights into clinical needs, doctors can guide AI design to save time, support decision-making, and improve care without undermining trust. By participating in the design and testing phases, we can ensure AI enhances rather than disrupts workflows. The future of healthcare lies in leveraging the strengths of both humans and machines. 

🏥How AI Is Transforming Healthcare Today 

These five AI health tech start-ups are already making a difference in NHS settings across the UK right now! 

Babylon Health (now owned by eMED Healthcare UK) 

 
Babylon Health has become a key part of NHS services, particularly in areas like London, through its “GP at Hand service” and the NHS app. Since 2017, patients have been able to use Babylon’s AI-driven symptom checker to assess their symptoms and get advice or book an appointment. This has helped ease pressure on GPs, especially in busy urban areas, by automating the initial triage process and guiding patients to the right care. 

Kheiron Medical Technologies 

 
Kheiron’s AI tool, Mia, is making a real impact in NHS breast cancer screening programmes, with hospitals in Leeds and Nottingham using it as part of the National Breast Screening Programme. Introduced in 2020 and rolled out more widely in 2022, Mia acts as a second reader for mammograms, helping radiologists spot early signs of cancer. This tool has been especially useful in easing the workload of radiologists, ensuring that no abnormalities go undetected while keeping the screening process accurate and efficient. 

Skin Analytics 

Skin Analytics’ “Dermoscopy AI is already in use at NHS dermatology services in hospitals like Buckinghamshire healthcare NHS trust, this AI system has been helping dermatologists assess skin lesions to identify possible cases of melanoma. By prioritising high-risk cases, it has helped reduce waiting times for dermatology appointments and ensured that patients who need urgent care are seen more quickly. 

Qure.ai 

 
Qure.ai’s qXR” tool is used in NHS hospitals such as Royal Bolton and Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust to analyse chest X-rays. Implemented in 2021, qXR helps detect conditions like pneumonia, tuberculosis, and lung cancer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was particularly valuable in identifying lung abnormalities related to the virus, helping hospitals triage patients faster and improve overall efficiency during a challenging time. 

Corti.ai 

 
Corti.ai’s technology is currently being trialled by NHS ambulance services, including London Ambulance Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service and Wales. Since 2021, the AI system has been listening to 999 and 111 emergency calls to detect signs of life-threatening conditions like cardiac arrest. By analysing speech patterns in real time, Corti helps call handlers recognise urgent cases more quickly, improving response times and potentially saving lives in critical situations. 

How Medics Can Prepare for AI in Healthcare 

1. Attend Digital Health Conferences Focused on AI 

  • Conferences such as Giant Health and the Future Health Summit are excellent places to learn about AI’s latest applications in healthcare. They often feature keynote speakers from AI start-ups, established healthcare providers, and technology firms, offering a mix of theoretical and practical insights. 
  • These events also provide opportunities to network with industry leaders and other medics who are already involved in digital health. Look for workshops or breakout sessions to gain hands-on experience or exposure to real-world AI tools. 

2. Reach Out to Clinicians Working in AI 

  • Platforms like LinkedIn make it easier than ever to connect with clinicians involved in AI projects. Search for healthcare professionals with titles like “Clinical AI Fellow,” “Health Technology Lead,” or “Digital Health Consultant” to find people actively working in the field. 
  • When reaching out, show genuine interest in their work and ask specific questions about their career paths, such as which skills or qualifications have been most valuable to them. Consider setting up informational interviews to learn more about transitioning into or collaborating with AI-driven projects. 

3. Join the “Clinicians in AI” Interest Group by the Alan Turing Institute 

  • The Alan Turing Institute’s “Clinicians in AI” group is a community that brings together healthcare professionals interested in AI’s application in medicine. Joining this group can help you stay up to date on the latest research, connect with like-minded clinicians, and even contribute to ongoing projects
  • Membership often includes access to exclusive events, webinars, and forums where you can discuss challenges and opportunities with experts across the healthcare and AI domains. 

4. Learn About AI and Get Educated 

  • There are numerous ways to deepen your understanding of AI, from quick online courses to formal degree programmes: 

Short Courses: Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and edX offer courses like “AI for Medicine” or “Introduction to Machine Learning,” which are tailored for beginners and professionals. 

Formal Education: Consider pursuing a dedicated MSc or intercalation in areas like Health Data Science or Digital Health and AI. The university of York has launched an Artificial intelligence for health care MSc. 

For a self-guided approach, read foundational texts on AI, such as Deep Medicine by Eric Topol, and keep up with leading journals or blogs in health tech such as the health tech pigeon newsletter.  

5. Apply for the AI Clinical Fellowship Programme 

  • If you’re in training, consider applying for the NHS England AI Clinical Fellowship Programme, which pairs clinicians with AI developers to work on real-world challenges in healthcare. Fellows gain hands-on experience in the development and implementation of AI solutions, as well as insights into regulatory, ethical, and practical aspects of AI integration. 
  • These fellowships are a fantastic opportunity to upskill while maintaining your clinical career. They also provide mentorship from leaders in the field and access to valuable networks within both healthcare and technology. 

6. Join AI-Focused Healthcare Organisations or Forums 

  • Active membership in these groups can help you gain insights into policy, regulation, and practical implementation of AI in healthcare. 

7. Volunteer or Collaborate on AI-Driven Projects 

  • Seek out opportunities to contribute to AI projects within your hospital or trust. For instance, you could collaborate on improving electronic patient record systems or participate in trials evaluating AI tools
  • Many start-ups and academic institutions welcome clinicians’ input to refine their AI systems. Volunteering for such initiatives can provide first-hand experience of the technology while expanding your professional network. 

8. Develop Data Literacy Skills 

  • A strong understanding of data handling, analysis, and ethics is useful for working with AI in healthcare. Learn the basics of coding (e.g., Python) and statistical analysis, as these skills are often in demand. 
  • Free resources such as Google’s Data Analytics Certificate or introductory courses in Python for data science can be a great starting point. 

9. Stay Updated on AI Policies and Regulations in Healthcare 

  • Understanding the regulatory and ethical frameworks governing AI in healthcare, such as GDPR, MHRA guidelines, or NICE approvals, is crucial for anyone working in this field. 
  • Subscribe to newsletters or follow organisations like the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to stay informed about emerging guidelines and standards. 

10. Advocate for AI Within Your Workplace 

  • Be proactive in introducing AI-driven solutions to your department. Identify main points where AI could make a difference, such as in triage systems, diagnostics, or resource allocation, and propose pilots or collaborations with relevant start-ups. 
  • By championing AI initiatives, you’ll position yourself as a forward-thinking clinician, which could open doors to leadership roles in digital health. 

Conclusion 

The integration of AI into healthcare is transforming the NHS, enhancing diagnostics, streamlining workflows, and improving patient outcomes. While these technologies are already making a tangible difference, their true potential will only be realised through close collaboration between clinicians and developers. By embracing AI as a tool to support, not replace, medical expertise, we can shape a future where innovation and human care work hand in hand to deliver the best possible outcomes for patients. 

Opportunities and resources! 

Here are some courses to be aware of and opportunities in this space! 

1.NHS Fellowship in Clinical AI – Guy’s and St Thomas’s – A programme for clinicians to gain expertise in AI, focusing on integrating AI solutions into clinical practice within the NHS. 

2. Google AI Health Research Clinical Specialist – A role at Google focused on researching and developing AI applications for healthcare, aiming to solve clinical challenges. 

3. Artificial intelligence for health care MSc University of Hull – A postgraduate programme designed to teach students how to apply AI in healthcare settings, including diagnostics and patient care. 

4. Artificial Intelligence for Biomedicine and Healthcare MSc UCL – A master’s course focusing on the development and application of AI technologies in biomedicine and healthcare, offered by a leading UK university. 

5. Artificial intelligence in healthcare University of Central Lancashire (short course). A CPD-accredited short course aimed at healthcare professionals to learn the basics of AI and its practical applications in healthcare. 

6. Health tech pigeon – A newsletter summarising the latest news and developments in health technology, including AI innovations and industry updates. 

7. Trustworthy AI for healthcare management short course  

8. Deep learning for AI course 

Thanks for reading! If you have any comments or interesting opportunities to add let us know in the comments!