Half of Brits unfamiliar with AI in NHS, as doctors warn more engagement needed to build trust

People are far more accepting of AI being used in the NHS when they are familiar with AI in general, showing the need for greater public engagement, according to a survey of public attitudes to AI in healthcare  conducted by J.L. Partners on behalf of the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR).  

The findings reveal broad recognition of AI's potential benefits in healthcare. However, there are hesitations about its implementation, with the public extremely sceptical about AI replacing the role of human doctors.  

The UK-wide survey found that: 

• The public recognise the benefits AI could bring – helping doctors, saving time and bringing down waiting lists. 
• Less than half (46%) of the public have heard of AI being used in healthcare. 
• The more familiar people are with AI, the more comfortable they are with its use in healthcare. While just 40% overall feel comfortable with healthcare AI, that figure rises to 76% among those who are very familiar with AI.  
• The public are particularly confident in AI’s ability to support radiology, including diagnostic tasks. 4 in 5 people support the use of AI in radiology despite only 2 in 5 feeling comfortable with AI in healthcare more generally. 
• However, people overwhelmingly believe that doctors should not be replaced by AI but should use it to assist them and save time. Only 13% think that radiologists should not use any AI tools.  
• The public trust doctors and want them to oversee the use of AI in healthcare. They want doctors to ensure that AI will not make the wrong diagnoses or reduce human interaction between patients and their doctors, and they want assurance that their data will be safe and secure.  
• The public have far more trust in their data being used to train AI models when that is managed by the NHS or their local GP, compared to when managed by abstract entities such as ‘government’ or ‘health technology companies’. 

This new insight into public attitudes comes as leading experts warn that the NHS must adopt AI if it is to meet rising demand. In a joint statement published by the RCR, clinical AI experts and policy leaders also say that AI rollout must be led by clinicians, and patients must hear the positive case for AI in the NHS.      

There is a persistent 30% shortfall in radiologists, despite increasing demand for CT and MRI scans every year. This chronic workforce shortage is causing delays to patients getting diagnosed and treated.  

While our research makes clear that AI cannot replace the role of doctors, the Royal College of Radiologists calls for an urgent, effective rollout of AI - for functions such as administration as well as clinical support - to relieve pressures on staff.  

Public engagement is essential to build trust in AI 

Dr Katharine Halliday, President of the Royal College of Radiologists, said:  

“Though the public are largely unaware of how AI is being used in the NHS, they recognise its potential.  

Successfully harnessing AI will be crucial to tackle pressures on the health service – freeing up doctors and other healthcare staff to spend more time with patients. 

Our research shows that people trust doctors and want them to oversee the use of AI in healthcare. In fact, AI tools are already used in over 60% of cancer centres and 70% of radiology departments, and the public feel confident about AI being used in this way.  

“People trust doctors and want them to oversee the use of AI in healthcare” 

We need a national conversation on the use of AI in healthcare so that we bring people with us and reap the benefits for patient care.  

Representing doctors at the cutting edge of AI, the Royal College of Radiologists is perfectly placed to lead its safe, effective rollout to make the NHS fit for the future.” 

Notes to editors:  

• Media contact: [email protected] 02038054065 
• Read the report: The Future of AI in Healthcare: Public perceptions of AI in Radiology. This poll took place in December 2024 and consisted of a nationally representative sample of 1021 adults in Great Britain to gauge their views on AI in healthcare. 
• Read the consensus statement: AI Deployment in the NHS: reviewing progress made and defining future action. This statement summarises the conclusions of a roundtable discussion of clinical AI and healthcare policy experts which took place at the RCR and NHS England Global AI Conference on 3 February 2025. Its signatories include representatives from the RCR, NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care, NICE, University College London, the Royal College of Pathologists, the Health Foundation, and the University of Cambridge.