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AI and Ethics Series : Why Bias Auditing is Essential in Ethical use of AI within the NHS

In this article I start to dig more of the detail of why ethics as a framework is hugely important within the NHS. Bias is something we may not consider when we start to look at creating a machine learning model, or when we go out to the market to procure an AI solution, and yet it is Bias that can lead to patient harm, can reinforce health inequality and ultimately lead to a failed project.

05/09/25

From left to right: Dr Priyantha Jayawardane - Deputy Director, Digital Innovation Unit and Gary Beddow - Digital Space

SOCTIM 2025 Award for Transforming NHS Waiting List Management

We’re proud to announce that NHS Midlands & Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit (MLCSU), led by its Digital Innovation Unit and Digital Space have jointly won the Service Delivery Project or Initiative of the Year at the SOCTIM Awards 2025, held at the President’s Conference in Birmingham.

05/09/25

AI and Ethics Series : One Size Doesn’t Fit All - But the NHS Needs One Risk Model for AI

Picture this: Two AI systems are about to be deployed in the NHS. One is an internal chatbot answering staff FAQs about HR policies. The other analyses diagnostic images to flag possible cancer cases for urgent review. Should both face the same level of ethical review?

29/08/25

AI and Ethics Series : Why the NHS needs a unified AI Ethics Framework and the Skills to Run it

AI in healthcare has the potential to speed up diagnoses, free up clinicians’ time, and improve patient outcomes. But it also introduces risks we’ve never faced at this scale — from hidden bias in training data to opaque decision-making that even the developers struggle to explain.

22/08/25

AI and Ethics Series : Taming the Wild West of Free AI Tools in Healthcare

The first article in John Uttley's series on AI and Ethics from a SIRO’s perspective. This time, John tackles the big question: Can NHS staff safely use free AI tools — like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini — without putting information at risk?

15/08/25

Easy access to the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme

A user-friendly digital hub developed by the Digital Innovation Unit streamlines referrals and offers personalised access to the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme (DWMP), focusing on uptake by people living with obesity and related health conditions. It is believed to be the world’s first end-to-end digital pathway.

17/07/25