UK Clinicians Want Clearer AI Guidance and Oversight
Alongside rising global adoption, regulators are moving to address safety and trust. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has joined as a founding member of the new Health AI Global Regulatory Network, positioning the UK at the forefront of international oversight.
Global Uptake Rising, UK Lags Behind
Elsevier's Clinician of the Future 2025 report, published last month, surveyed 2206 clinicians (1781 doctors and 425 nurses) in 109 countries. The responses included answers from 78 UK doctors or physician associates and 31 nurses.
Nearly half of respondents globally (48%) reported using AI at work, almost double the 2024 figure of 26%.
In the UK, uptake was lower. Only 34% of UK clinicians reported using AI at work, with just 21% of doctors doing so. Common uses included identifying drug interactions (20%), writing clinical notes (18%), second opinions (18%), patient letters (16%), analysing medical images (15%), medication summaries (12%), and multidisciplinary reviews of complex cases (8%).
Despite high patient volumes — 60% of UK clinicians said they lacked time to deliver good care, compared with 74% globally — many felt digital diagnostic tools remained inadequate.
Scepticism and Distrust
UK clinicians were more sceptical than average about AI's potential benefits and were less likely to use it for clinical decision-making, with 53% indicating they would not, and 45% saying they would not rely on AI tools for second opinions. Thirty-three percent described AI as unreliable, compared with 23% who considered it trustworthy.
Dr Rahul Goyal, clinical executive at Elsevier and a practising GP, told Medscape News UK that caution reflects the NHS's structure. He cited strict regulatory oversight, national guidelines, evidence-based practice, and accountability as factors.
'While these priorities help safeguard patient care, they can also make clinicians more cautious about adopting new technologies like AI,' he said. He also pointed to 'tech debt' within NHS systems, with many still paper-based and lacking routine clinical decision support. 'As a result, clinicians are understandably more sceptical about using new technologies,' Goyal said.
Confidentiality and Trust Most Key
When asked what would increase their confidence in AI, 81% of UK clinicians highlighted data confidentiality. The same proportion wanted AI tools trained for factual accuracy, morality, and safety — well above the 63% global average.
Trust in international governance was low. Just 27% of UK respondents said they trusted their organisation's AI oversight. Globally, 74% said clearer guidance on AI use would boost trust.
The findings align with concerns expressed in Medscape's September 2024 UK Doctors and AI Report. It found that while more than half of clinicians were enthusiastic about the future of AI in healthcare, 1 in 3 of the 745 respondents lacked confidence that it could ensure confidentiality. The vast majority (83%) agreed there was a need for oversight of AI in healthcare settings.
Push for Regulation
A General Medical Council report earlier this year echoed these concerns, with doctors warning that NHS IT systems must improve before wider adoption. Respondents highlighted concerns about confidentiality risks, over-reliance, de-skilling, errors, and lack of independent evaluation. Many called for regulators to provide more guidance.
The lower adoption rate of AI in the UK 'underscores the prevailing caution, and reinforces the need for greater integration, clear guidance, and reassurance as AI becomes more prominent in UK healthcare,' Goyal said.
He expressed support for the MHRA's leading role in the new Health AI Global Regulatory Network, describing it as 'a proactive step toward addressing clinicians' concerns.' AI and digital tools are reshaping healthcare, he said, but 'their success depends on building systems that empower clinicians to use them confidently and responsibly.'
Looking Ahead
While concerns persist, many clinicians see potential benefits. Nearly half (46%) of UK respondents said AI could improve consultation quality, and 62% expected it to improve patient outcomes within 3 years.
Goyal said that success depends on integration into NHS systems, clinician training, and patient acceptance.
'If AI is used as a tool to improve access, enhance communication, and empower patients with information, then it is a win,' he said. 'However, if it is poorly implemented or perceived as impersonal, it could widen the gap between GPs and patients.'
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