AI in healthcare news and updates

22nd October 2025 

Microsoft 365 Copilot trial demonstrates monthly time savings of potentially 400,000 hours for NHS staff

The largest artificial intelligence (AI) trial of its kind globally in healthcare, involving more than 30,000 NHS workers, has shown how new technology could generate unprecedented time savings for NHS staff and lead to better care for patients, in a major productivity drive.

A groundbreaking pilot of Microsoft 365 Copilot across 90 NHS organisations found that AI-powered administrative support could save NHS staff on average 43 minutes per staff member per day or more - that’s 5 weeks of time per person annually. Results from the trial show that a full roll-out could save up to 400,000 hours of staff time per month.

Currently, over one million online Teams meetings take place across the NHS each month. With Microsoft 365 Copilot, 83,333 hours in note-taking time could be saved every month. Another 13,200 hours per month could be saved.

The AI personal assistant could also save the health service 271,000 hours a month by summarising complex and long email chains for clinicians and staff. More than 10.3 million emails are sent in the NHS each month.

Source: Press Release Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) 21st October 2025

16th October 2025

National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare

The National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare is an expert, non-statutory advisory body established by the MHRA to review current regulations and provide recommendations for a new regulatory framework for AI in healthcare.

Chaired by Professor Alastair Denniston, practising NHS clinician and head of the UK’s Centre of Excellence in Regulatory Science in AI & Digital Health (CERSI-AI), and deputy chaired by the Patient Safety Commissioner Professor Henrietta Hughes, the group will guide the MHRA on how cutting-edge AI technologies can be safely and effectively integrated into everyday healthcare.

The Commission will be supported by specialist working groups with domain expertise and will receive secretarial and logistical support from the MHRA. The membership of these groups will be published on this page in due course.

Purpose

Launched on 26 September 2025, the National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare brings together global AI leaders, clinicians and regulators to advise the MHRA on the development of a new regulatory framework for AI in healthcare, to be published in 2026. The National Commission will produce recommendations to advise the development of MHRA guidance in the interim, addressing urgent areas of uncertainty for the healthcare system and industry such as, but not limited to, Ambient Voice Technology.

Publications and news

New Commission to help accelerate NHS use of AI

Lawrence Tallon: New Commission to help accelerate NHS use of AI

Members of National Commission on the Regulation of AI in Healthcare

  • Professor Alastair Denniston, Professor of Regulatory Science and Innovation at the University of Birmingham, Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, and Executive Director of the UK Centre of Excellence for Regulatory Science in AI & DigitalHealthTech (CERSI-AI).
  • Professor Henrietta Hughes, Patient Safety Commissioner for England. Responsible for promoting the safety of patients in the health service, investigating patient safety issues, and providing independent oversight of patient safety across the NHS.
  • Dame Jennifer Dixon, Chief Executive of the Health Foundation, one of the UK’s leading health policy think tanks. Has extensive experience in health policy analysis and research, focusing on healthcare quality, efficiency, and system reform.
  • Dr Ricardo Baptista Leite, CEO of HealthAI, the Global Agency for Responsible AI in Health. A medical doctor and researcher specialising in the ethical implementation of artificial intelligence in healthcare systems globally.
  • Brian Anderson, CEO of the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI), a collaborative organisation working to advance the responsible adoption of AI in healthcare. Has extensive experience in health technology leadership and digital health innovation.
  • Richard Stubbs, Chief Executive of Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, leading regional health innovation initiatives and partnerships between the NHS, academia, and industry to improve patient outcomes through technology and innovation.
  • Professor Neil Lawrence, DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge and Chief Scientist at Trent AI. A leading expert in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data science with particular focus on healthcare applications.
  • Professor Cathie Sudlow, Director of the Usher Institute at the University of Edinburgh and Director of the UKRI Adolescent Health Study and Generation Scotland. Leads large-scale population health research studies and epidemiological research.
  • Dr Vish Ratnasuriya MBE, practising GP, Chair of Our Health Partnership, co-founder of Primary Care Accelerator, and Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham. Focuses on primary care innovation and digital health transformation.
  • Dr Gabriella Spinelli, Director of the RADIANT-CERSI Centre for Regulatory Science & Innovation in Digital Health & Healthcare AI at Brunel University of London. Specialises in regulatory science for digital health technologies and AI in healthcare.
  • Richard Susskind CBE KC, President of the Society for Computers and Law, technology advisor to the Lord Chief Justice, and leading authority on the future of legal services and the impact of technology on the legal profession.
  • Barry Stein, Chief Clinical Innovation Officer and Chief Medical Informatics Officer for Hartford HealthCare, leading digital transformation and AI implementation across one of America’s largest healthcare systems.

Meetings: summary minutes

The National Commission will hold monthly meetings during the creation of their recommendations. A summary of the key points discussed by the core group at these meetings will be published by the MHRA.

Source: MHRA