AI must move beyond pilots to deliver an inclusive and productive NHS, concludes inaugural ABHI and Barts Health Forum Roundtable 

Leaders from across the NHS, government, industry and academia have called for a fundamental shift in how artificial intelligence is adopted across the health service, arguing that the NHS must move beyond isolated pilots and create clearer, faster routes to deployment if it is to realise the full benefits of AI. 

The conclusions come from the inaugural ABHI and Barts Health Forum Roundtable, AI for an Inclusive and Productive NHS, held on 3rd June 2026, as part of the strategic partnership between ABHI and Barts Health NHS Trust. 

Hosted at KPMG and chaired by Professor Ian Jacobs, Chair of Barts Health NHS Trust, the discussion brought together senior representatives from across the health and innovation ecosystem to explore how AI can improve productivity, reduce health inequalities and support economic growth. The event was the first in a planned series of roundtables, convening leaders from across healthcare, government, industry and academia to address some of the NHS’s most pressing challenges and identify practical actions to accelerate innovation and adoption. 

Participants agreed that the NHS already has access to many promising AI technologies. The challenge is not innovation itself, but creating consistent and scalable pathways for adoption. While significant progress has been made in developing AI solutions, many remain confined to pilot programmes without reaching routine clinical practice. 

The discussion identified operational applications, including ambient voice technology, administrative automation, scheduling and pathway management, as areas where AI can deliver immediate productivity gains while reducing administrative burden on frontline staff. 

Health inequalities featured prominently throughout the discussion, with attendees stressing that AI must be designed and deployed in ways that actively improve equity rather than inadvertently widening existing disparities. Participants highlighted the importance of engaging communities, improving digital inclusion and ensuring technologies are evaluated not only for clinical performance but also for their impact on different population groups.  

The roundtable also explored the wider economic opportunity presented by AI. Participants argued that the UK has significant strengths, including world-leading research, clinical expertise and a diverse patient population, but that complex procurement processes and inconsistent adoption pathways continue to discourage companies from scaling innovations through the NHS. 

A key theme was the role of the Barts Life Sciences Cluster as a nationally significant innovation ecosystem. Attendees agreed that the Cluster has the potential to become a leading testbed for healthcare AI, bringing together the NHS, academia, industry and regional partners to accelerate evaluation, adoption and spread. 

One of the strongest recommendations to emerge from the discussion was the creation of a clear “front door” into the Barts innovation ecosystem, providing innovators with transparent routes to engagement, governance, evaluation and adoption. Participants argued that greater clarity and faster decision-making would significantly improve collaboration between the NHS and industry. 

The event forms part of the wider Memorandum of Understanding between ABHI and Barts Health, which aims to strengthen collaboration across innovation, research, adoption and economic development. 

Richard Phillips, Executive Director of Policy and Partnerships at ABHI, said: “Artificial intelligence has enormous potential to improve patient care, support NHS staff and drive productivity, but only if we create the conditions for adoption at scale. This discussion reinforced that success will not be measured by the number of pilots we launch, but by how effectively we embed proven innovation into everyday care. Through our partnership with Barts Health, we have an opportunity to help develop a model that delivers both better health outcomes and economic growth.” 

Shane DeGaris, Chief Executive of Barts Health NHS Trust, added: “Barts Health serves one of the most diverse populations in the country and has a unique opportunity to demonstrate how AI can improve care while reducing inequalities. Working in partnership with ABHI, industry and our wider innovation ecosystem, we are committed to creating an environment where innovation can move more rapidly from development into deployment, delivering tangible benefits for patients, staff and the NHS.” 

 As the first in a planned series of roundtables, the discussion established a strong foundation for ongoing collaboration between ABHI, Barts Health and partners across the health and innovation ecosystem. The insights will inform the next phase of the partnership, supporting work to develop the Barts Life Sciences Cluster as a national exemplar for inclusive AI adoption, innovation and measurable impact, with further roundtables planned later this year on key priorities facing the NHS. 

You can read the full report from the roundtable.