Artificial intelligence is already reshaping conversations across the NHS. At this year’s Proud2BeOps, it was clear that AI is top of mind for many leaders. Everyone is talking about it, but few feel confident about how to execute it safely or in a way that genuinely supports their teams.

That uncertainty is understandable. The NHS is under constant pressure to drive efficiency, modernise digital services, and make better use of data. But introducing AI into critical workflows cannot be done in isolation or without strong governance.

 

From Experimentation to Execution

One of the strongest themes from the event was that many trusts are running isolated AI pilots or exploring automation tools independently. While these efforts show great innovation, they also highlight a lack of shared frameworks, communication, and coordination between trusts.

Working in silos increases the risk of “shadow AI” – unmonitored or unapproved AI activity that may operate outside established data, security, and compliance controls. It is not usually malicious, but it can introduce serious operational and clinical risks if left unchecked.

To move from experimentation to safe execution, NHS organisations need clear governance models, lifecycle management, and accountability built into every AI initiative.

 

Practical AI Use Cases for the NHS

AI has real potential to reduce administrative burden and improve service delivery when applied responsibly. Some of the most promising and achievable use cases we are seeing include:

  • Workforce and HR automation: AI-driven agents can handle onboarding tasks, respond to policy queries, or generate compliance reports, freeing HR staff to focus on workforce planning and wellbeing.

  • IT service automation: AI can triage tickets, provide guided support for routine requests, and maintain audit trails for all actions to support governance and accountability.

  • Procurement and finance workflows: Intelligent orchestration can automate invoice matching, supplier communications, and contract reviews while maintaining strict data access controls.

  • Clinical operations support: AI can summarise structured patient information or generate administrative documentation, helping clinicians spend more time with patients without exposing sensitive data to uncontrolled tools.

  • Data quality management: Automated validation and flagging of incomplete or inconsistent data across systems improves accuracy and supports better analytics and reporting.

Each of these examples depends on the same principle: AI can only deliver measurable impact when deployed within a governed, compliant, and transparent framework.

 

Building AI on a Foundation of Trust

Responsible AI adoption starts with strong foundations. That means:

  • Governance first: Clear ownership of AI projects with oversight across departments.

  • Transparency and auditability: Keeping a record of how AI systems make decisions and actions.

  • Security and compliance: Ensuring automation aligns with NHS data and clinical safety standards.

  • Collaboration: Encouraging communication between trusts so best practices and lessons learned are shared, not siloed.

AI is not a replacement for people; it is a tool that can enable staff to work more efficiently, access better insights and deliver higher-quality services.

 

How Celerity Can Help

At Celerity, we take a governance-first approach to AI. Our new AI Managed Service, built on IBM watsonx Orchestrate, combines orchestration and automation with continuous compliance and enterprise-grade security.

For NHS teams, that means being able to innovate confidently, improve efficiency, and unlock automation value while maintaining full control over governance and compliance.

The NHS is ready for AI, but the real challenge lies in executing it responsibly and collaboratively. By working together and embedding governance into every stage of adoption, we can make AI a trusted enabler of safer, smarter, and more efficient healthcare.

If your trust is exploring AI and wants to ensure it’s done securely, responsibly, and with lasting impact, now is the time to start the conversation.

Book your AI Readiness Consultation with Celerity’s specialist.