NHS AI Regulation Commission Reveals Strong Public Demand for Reform and Oversight
A national commission examining the regulation of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare has released early insights from its call for evidence, revealing strong public support for regulatory reform and significant concerns about the monitoring of AI medical devices after they are deployed.
The National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare published its early findings on 22 April, drawing on more than 770 responses to its call for evidence. The commission, which is examining how AI should be governed in the NHS and wider healthcare system, found broad consensus that the current regulatory framework needs updating to keep pace with rapid technological change.
Key Findings
Henrietta Hughes, patient safety commissioner and deputy chair of the commission, highlighted that the public desires to be included as partners in AI regulation, emphasising that "trust is central to the technology, its use, and governance." While there is a call for meaningful change, respondents did not seek a complete overhaul of the existing regulatory system, suggesting confidence in certain aspects of the current framework.
Significant concerns were raised regarding the monitoring of AI medical devices after they are deployed in clinical settings — so-called post-market surveillance. Respondents also highlighted uncertainties surrounding liability when AI systems make errors that affect patient care. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is actively engaging with patients, communities, and healthcare professionals through collaborations with National Voices and The Health Foundation.
Background
The commission's work comes at a time of rapid expansion in the use of AI across the NHS, from diagnostic imaging tools to administrative systems and patient triage. While AI offers significant potential to improve efficiency and outcomes, it also raises important questions about accountability, bias, and patient safety that existing regulatory frameworks were not designed to address.
An "Ask Me Anything" webinar is scheduled for 20 May 2026 to allow public interaction with the commission's leadership, and recommendations are expected to be published by summer 2026. For more, see Health Tech Newspaper's coverage.
What's Next?
The commission's final recommendations, expected this summer, are likely to have significant implications for how AI is developed, deployed, and monitored across the NHS. Healthcare providers, technology companies, and patient groups will all be watching closely to see whether the commission recommends new legislation, updated guidance, or structural changes to the regulatory bodies responsible for overseeing AI in healthcare.
