AI Adoption Rises Among UK GPs, But Concerns Mount Over Regulation and Patient Safety
London, UK – A growing number of UK general practitioners (GPs) are integrating Artificial intelligence (AI) tools into their daily practice, with a recent study revealing that 30% are now utilizing AI in patient consultations. Though, this rapid adoption is occurring alongside significant concerns regarding a lack of regulation, inadequate training, and potential risks to patient safety, according to reports from the Nuffield Trust and research published in the journal Digital Health.
The shift marks a dramatic change in just one year, with AI moving “from taboo to tool” in British medicine, according to Dr. Charlotte Blease of Uppsala University in sweden, the lead author of the Digital Health study. The proportion of GPs using AI has risen from 20% to 25% over the past 12 months.
While the government hopes AI will transform the National Health Service (NHS), the Nuffield Trust report highlights a “huge chasm between policy ambitions and the current disorganised reality” of its implementation in general practice. Dr. Becks Fisher, Director of Research and Policy at the Nuffield Trust, described the current landscape as a “wild west of tools which are unregulated at a national level in the NHS.” the inconsistency is further underscored by the fact that some NHS regional integrated care boards support GPs using AI, while others ban it outright.
The studies reveal that GPs are utilizing AI to streamline tasks, but the time saved isn’t necessarily translating into increased patient appointments. Instead, doctors are primarily using the extra time for “self-care and rest, including reducing overtime working hours to prevent burnout,” the Nuffield trust report states.
Crucially, a significant majority of GPs are using these tools without formal training. This lack of oversight is a primary concern for experts. “The real risk isn’t that GPs are using AI. It’s that they’re doing it without training or oversight,” Dr. Blease warned. Potential risks identified include clinical errors and breaches of patient privacy and data security.
The growing reliance on AI isn’t limited to healthcare professionals. Healthwatch England reports that approximately 9% of patients are now turning to AI tools for health facts, often when facing difficulties accessing GP services. However, the quality of advice provided by these tools is inconsistent, with one instance cited where an AI tool incorrectly diagnosed shingles as Lyme disease.
A government commission launched in September is currently investigating how to ensure the safe, effective, and regulated use of AI in healthcare and is expected to deliver recommendations in the future.
The Department of Health and Social Care was approached for comment.
