Reflections on using AI in General Practice

One of the issues often seems lost in all that is going on in general practice and ICBs at present is the question ‘not whether we will use AI in general practice, but how we do so safely, ethically and in ways that genuinely improve care. Although we have touched on this question at recent LMC county meetings it is not one we have a grounded view on from all our member practices. Where are you up to in using it?

In our discussions one theme that came through strongly was that access to the next generation of AI will not be uniform. It will depend on which practices or organisations can demonstrate the infrastructure, governance, and capability to deploy and monitor these systems safely in real-world settings. At a neighbourhood or ICB Place level this represents a significant shift from the current position.

Health providers are no longer just adopters of technology, we are increasingly being asked to take on responsibility for how AI performs in practice, how it is monitored over time, and how risks are identified and managed. That raises important questions about readiness, capability, and accountability.

In general practice we hold some of the richest, longitudinal datasets in the system. If AI is to transform care, its greatest impact is likely to be realised in primary care. Yet very few organisations currently have the infrastructure, capability or governance needed to meet these expectations. The risk is clear. The part of the system where AI could have the greatest impact may be the least able to safely host and shape it. The opportunity is whether we, as providers and as a profession, step forward to help define what safe, effective, and equitable deployment looks like, despite the day-to-day pressures we face.

There is also a broader system challenge too. If access to early-stage AI is shaped by organisational capability, how do we ensure this does not widen the gap between providers, or the populations they serve?

What matters most? Patient safety, public confidence and trust are not secondary considerations. Our patients and the public are already shaping this conversation, and are clear about what they expect: transparency, clarity, and a sense that humanity is not lost as technology advances. The latter of these expectations is what has always made general practice the bedrock of the NHS and makes the family doctor services so important in patients lives. The sense of personal services, continuity of care, and humanity make good general practice great.

William Greenwood

LMC Chief Executive