Clinicians must lead on AI in healthcare, say medical bodies

UK medical bodies for radiotherapy and imaging professionals have called for clinicians to be at the forefront of the adoption of AI in healthcare.

In a joint statement, the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR), the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine, and the Society of Radiographers, call for regulation that ensures the use of AI in healthcare is safe, reflects the realities of workforce capacity, and has clear system-wide accountability. 

Their statement is in response to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) consultation on the regulation of AI, which opened in December 2025, to support the work of the National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare.

“AI is already embedded across imaging and radiotherapy services, with use expanding rapidly. 

“Regulation must therefore be grounded in real clinical practice, reflecting patient safety, workforce capacity and NHS delivery realities,” the joint statement says.

It calls for workforce capacity as a patient safety requirement, with national workforce planning, funded training pathways, recognised roles and protected time made integral to regulation.

“Across our professions, there is clear consensus that AI must enhance, not replace, clinical expertise. 

“Our members deploy and assure AI systems daily and see both their benefits and the risks when evidence, governance or workforce capacity are insufficient,” it says.

It adds that regulation should be clear on where responsibility lies for AI between manufacturers, healthcare organisations and professionals, including expectations for transparency, training, post-market monitoring and liability.

The statement also refers to the government’s National Cancer Plan, published on 4 February 2026, which commits to ensuring that three in four people diagnosed with cancer from 2035 onwards are cancer-free or living well after five years.  

The plan includes a commitment to faster diagnostics, with a £2.3bn investment expected to deliver 9.5 million additional tests by 2029, through the provision of more scanners, digital technology and automated testing.   

“The recently announced Cancer Plan reinforces this urgency, with ambitions such as achieving 75% of cancer patients surviving five years depending on earlier diagnosis, timely treatment and high-quality imaging and radiotherapy services, supported by the safe, evidence-based and regulated deployment of AI. 

“We welcome the MHRA’s engagement and believe the regulatory framework must be strengthened to enable safe, sustainable adoption and maintain public trust.”

In response to the National Cancer Plan, Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of The King’s Fund, noted that many hospitals “still cannot share imaging or pathology results in a timely way due to old technology holding them back”. 

“Addressing this needs to receive as much focus as rolling out major new AI projects,” she said.

Dr Stephen Harden, president of the RCR, said: “Clinical radiologists and clinical oncologists see both the promise and risks of AI every day. 

“Regulation must support professional judgement, be underpinned by robust evidence and provide clear accountability.”