What the public thinks about AI in the NHS – and what it means for you

Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t tomorrow’s tech – it's already in use across the NHS. And policymakers are taking notice. Just this week, the government signalled their backing for AI-powered ambient voice technologies to support more time for direct patient care.  
 
AI must support doctors, not make things harder for them. That means clinician-led adoption, tools that genuinely save time, and decisions shaped by those who understand the clinical realities.  

What we asked the public – and what they told us 

We recently commissioned representative polling by JL Partners to understand how the general public views the use of AI in healthcare. Here’s what we found: 

• Less than half (46%) of the public have heard of AI being used in the NHS 
• People already familiar with AI are more comfortable with its use in healthcare than those who are not. 
• A large majority of the respondents see the value AI could have for radiology and cancer treatment.  
• The public strongly believes doctors should not be replaced by AI, but rather that they should work with AI to save them time and boost their capabilities.  
• The public are highly trusting of doctors and the NHS, especially with the use of their personal health data.  

What this means for you 

The public wants you to be leading the way on AI. They want AI to assist, not replace, you, and they trust your judgement when it comes to AI’s use. That’s why the RCR is calling for honest, clinician-led conversations to build public awareness and protect public trust.  

Read the full polling report here.

But we also know from this year’s census data (coming soon) and your feedback that although AI use is widespread in our specialties, it is not always saving you time or making your working lives easier. We want to see AI implemented smarter, more strategic, and in a way that benefits our members. 

How the RCR is acting on your behalf 

In a new report published today, we make the case for how essential radiologists’ and oncologists’ clinical expertise is for the safe and effective deployment and use of AI tools in patient care. We argue that AI stands to add the most value to the NHS where it automates admin and improves workflow. Where AI is used in clinical settings, it should support you to make best use of your clinical expertise – and it certainly cannot replace expert radiologists or oncologists. 

We are advocating for greater investment in AI tools that reduce doctors’ administrative burden – and do not add to it. In the past this hasn’t always been the case, so we are urging the NHS to learn from past digitisation efforts and ensure AI delivers real benefits to clinical teams. 

Read the report here.

What’s next – and how you can get involved 

We’re continuing to work with the government, NHS, industry and other national bodies to get this right. We want to ensure that wherever AI decisions are being made, your voices are heard. And we’re developing guidance and educational resources to help you safely integrate AI into your practice, 

We want to hear from you across our social channels: LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram. What are the barriers you’ve faced to deploying and using AI? Has AI helped you, and if so how? Your experiences will help us advocate on your behalf and shape our future work.