Infrastructure Hurdles Threaten NHS’s AI Ambitions, Warns The King’s Fund
The King’s Fund, a leading healthcare research charity, has issued a briefing cautioning that outdated infrastructure could prevent the NHS from unlocking the full benefits of AI.
Authored by Pritesh Mistry, Fellow in Digital Technologies, the paper highlights how enthusiasm among frontline staff is often dampened by inadequate tech support and unreliable infrastructure.
Barriers to Innovation
- Health and social care organisations frequently encounter difficulties accessing data.
- There’s a growing perception that vendors of data systems are reluctant to support innovators integrating new technologies.
- The briefing calls for enforcement of data standards under the Data (Use and Access) Act and the establishment of a clear national policy on data access mechanisms through software platforms.
Systemic Challenges Beyond technology gaps, the report identifies a shortage of digital skills, insufficient funding, and limited frameworks for evaluating AI opportunities. These structural weaknesses hinder the NHS’s ability to fully engage with AI-driven transformation.
Strategic Recommendations To overcome these challenges, the briefing suggests:
- Boosting the capacity of IT teams
- Securing multi-year funding for technology initiatives
- Establishing robust evaluation stages for AI tools
A Whole-System Shift
“To ensure AI benefits reach patients, carers, professionals, and service providers, the right infrastructure must be in place,” the report stresses. “This encompasses not only technical systems, but also empowered teams, permissions, governance frameworks, and leadership.”
The King’s Fund concludes that digital transformation in health and social care demands more than technology alone—it requires coordinated development across infrastructure, skills, roles, workflows, and culture.
