NTT DATA Highlights Gen AI Progress and Challenges in UK Healthcare
Generative AI (Gen AI) is making a significant impact on UK healthcare, especially in diagnostics and operational efficiency. It helps healthcare professionals manage vast patient records, allowing more time for complex patient care. Additionally, Gen AI streamlines health insurance by converting unstructured data into structured formats, speeding up benefit verification.
Despite this promise, NTT DATA’s recent research reveals a gap between the industry's ambitious Gen AI goals and its current capabilities.
"The ethical and secure use of AI in healthcare is central to our mission to build a smarter, healthier society."
— Flann Horgan, Vice President of Healthcare at NTT DATA UK&I
Strategies and Alignment Challenges
Over 80% of healthcare leaders say they have a Gen AI strategy, but only 40% confirm it aligns well with business goals. Furthermore, just 54% consider their Gen AI capabilities to be high-performing. This gap is concerning as the UK government rolls out its 10-year Fit for the Future Health Plan, positioning the NHS to become a leading AI-powered healthcare system.
Still, enthusiasm for Gen AI remains high. According to Sundar Srinivasan, Senior Vice President at NTT DATA North America, 94% of healthcare leaders believe Gen AI will significantly boost research and development. Expected benefits include improved diagnostics, better patient experiences, and more efficient administration.
Key obstacles include:
- Skills shortages: 75% report insufficient internal Gen AI expertise.
- Legacy infrastructure: 91% say outdated technology limits scaling Gen AI.
- Security and privacy concerns: 91% worry about protecting sensitive health data, with only 42% confident in their AI security measures.
Planned Features to Address Challenges
- Centralised digital tools, including a revamped NHS App
- Increased investment in AI-ready infrastructure and workforce training
- Governance reforms to accelerate safe AI adoption
Despite these challenges, 87% of healthcare professionals believe the long-term benefits of Gen AI outweigh the risks. More than half plan significant AI investments within two years.
Sundar Srinivasan: “To realise Gen AI’s full potential, organisations need to align technology with business goals, develop thorough workforce training, and implement governance that keeps humans involved. Transparency about how AI benefits patients is essential.”
NHS and AI Use Cases
The UK’s 10-year health plan aims for the NHS to shift from analogue to digital, integrating AI to support clinicians. The goal is to enhance diagnostic decision-making and address workforce shortages through AI assistants.
Tom Winstanley, CTO at NTT DATA UK & Ireland: “The government’s plan to make the NHS the most AI-enabled health system in the world calls for all hospitals to adopt AI, putting the UK at the forefront of AI adoption and investment.”
Flann Horgan: “The plan supports healthcare professionals with trusted AI assistants, bridging skill gaps while securely using NHS health data.”
A standout example is the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust’s partnership with NTT DATA to develop an AI-driven radiology platform. This tool uses Gen AI for faster and more accurate cancer detection, aiding researchers and clinicians with imaging biomarker analysis. Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), this initiative is directly improving diagnostic speed and accuracy, benefiting cancer patients through earlier detection and targeted treatment.
Flann Horgan: “This partnership shows how AI can be applied responsibly in healthcare. Ethical and secure AI use is key to building a smarter, healthier society. We’re proud to support The Royal Marsden in advancing cancer research.”
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