Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in consultation with the Department of Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what investment and support her Department is providing for the development of AI-enabled decision-support tools to a
Answer
From 2023 to 2026, NHS England provided funding for an NHS Genomic Network of Excellence focused on advancing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in genomics. This included working with MendelScan to support the development and validation of AI approaches to improve the identification and diagnosis of patients with rare and genetic conditions, through developing and validating algorithms and automated phenotype annotation models, alongside work to identify previously unrecognised rare disease patients. Further work is required to evaluate these approaches and consider the case for wider implementation. NHS England will continue to explore other AI deployment opportunities across diagnostic services, subject to evidence, regulatory approval, and assessment of clinical benefit as well as looking at strategic investment to support the ambition of the 10-Year Health Plan to transform the NHS into the most AI-enabled health system in the world.14% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (42/100)
The reply gives one concrete example of support for AI in genomic diagnosis: an NHS England-funded AI-focused Genomic Network of Excellence running from 2023 to 2026, plus work with MendelScan on diagnostic algorithms. It does not give a funding amount, and it does not describe the wider strategic investment the question asked about. A member of the public would learn about one programme but would likely need to ask again for the overall picture and the figures.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What investment and support the Department is providing for the development of AI-enabled decision-support tools | Partially Addressed | Direct | The reply names concrete support: NHS England funding for an AI-focused Genomic Network of Excellence (2023–2026) and work with MendelScan on algorithms and automated phenotype annotation models for diagnosis. That is relevant to diagnostic decision-support, but it covers only one genomics programme, gives no amount, and the broader 'strategic investment' is left unspecified. |