NHS SBS plans healthcare AI solutions framework

NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) is planning the formation of a new framework agreement for AI solutions in healthcare.

It will be named Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Solutions and will replace the frameworks for AI Software in Neuroscience for Stroke Decision Support and AI Imaging and Radiotherapy Equipment, which are due to expire in September 2025.

NHS SBS say the framework is at an early stage of development, but will be split into six lots:

• Lot 1: Radiology and diagnostic imaging
• Lot 2: Pathological diagnosis and early detection
• Lot 3: Predictive analytics
• Lot 4: Research and development
• Lot 5: Operational efficiency
• Lot 6: Specialist support

Kelly Bevington, senior category manager for digital and IT at NHS SBS, said that AI can help with a variety of tasks in the health service, including accurate diagnosis by analysing large amounts of data, recommending effective treatments, quickly producing the results of screening in preventative care, and helping in the management of resources.

It can also help clinicians in applying best practice, deliver predictive techniques to support local health systems to plan care for populations, and provide intuitive tools to capture data as a by-product of care.

“AI has the potential to transform NHS patient care, speeding up diagnosis and treatment times by ensuring that expert clinical resource is targeted where it has the greatest impact for the patient,” Bevington said.

“Our new framework agreement will focus on the application of AI in different specialities by providing new efficient ways to prevent, diagnose, treat illness and optimise clinical workflow.”

NHS SBS, a joint venture between the Department of Health and Social Care and Sopra Steria, is currently emailing potential customers, inviting them to give their input to help shape the framework.

The announcement follows prime minister Sir Keir Starmer annoucement of the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan.

In a speech on 13 January 2024, Starmer confirmed that all 50 recommendations made by Matt Clifford, AI advisor to the government would be taken forward.

Starmer said that the plan would “make our country an AI superpower” and offered a “unique chance to boost growth, raise living standards, transform public services, create the companies of the future in Britain”.

Among the recommendations are proposals for the UK to invest in a supercomputer to boost computing power and a national data library to gather data held by the public sector, including anonymised health data, to support AI research and innovation.