South East Coast Ambulance (SECAmb) Service NHS Foundation Trust has presented findings from its “PARA-AI” project exploring attitudes toward AI in pre-hospital care, finding strong support for AI use in clinical care with the appropriate safeguards.
Findings from the ten month mixed-methods study were shared during SECAmb’s clinical research summit, by paramedics Nicola Buchan, Jay Garland and Jack Green. 171 survey responses were received, the team noted, complemented by 14 in-depth interviews with SECAmb paramedics.
83 percent of respondents said they would be willing to use AI technologies in clinical practice, so long as the appropriate safeguards were in place, with 80 percent highlighting the importance of clear governance, audit processes, and accountability in increasing trust in AI. 92 percent believed that paramedics should be involved in the design and testing of AI tools.
96 percent felt that ultimate clinical responsibility should remain with paramedics for decision making, and 83 percent spoke of concerns about the potential to become overly reliant on AI, with the research team suggesting it should be used “to support, rather than replace, independent clinical reasoning”.
The findings have reportedly been used to develop a roadmap as a framework for the safe introduction of AI in ambulance services. Nicola Buchan said: “What’s particularly exciting is that we’ve been able to turn the findings into something practical. Our roadmap provides a starting point for conversations about how AI might be introduced safely, while protecting the clinical judgement and human interaction that are so important in paramedic practice.”
Also featured at the summit was the AI Technology for Prehospital Assessment and Care Excellence (AT PACE) project, a study by SECAmb’s Thomas Whately. The project will rely on simulated scenarios with 50 participants to explore how AI can support ePCR documentation, and will test a wearable voice-operated device to see whether it can “change the experience of using AI”.
In October, the service also launched a pilot to test out the use of video link to help specialist critical care paramedics during a suspected cardiac arrest, providing a real-time view of the scene of the emergency. The technology will allow clinicians to get a clearer understanding of the situation and share information with crews before they reach the scene, the trust explains.
Critical care team leader Bradley Gander, highlighted the benefits for both crews and patients, saying: “Being able to see the environment, assess CPR and identify any additional challenges means we can support callers more effectively and give responding crews valuable information before they arrive. Ultimately, it’s about giving patients the best possible chance of survival.”
Learnings from the four-week pilot will be used to inform future implementation trust-wide, according to SECAmb, with the potential for video technology to be used in supporting a wider range of calls. The trust has also created a YouTube video discussing the use of the tech on the frontline.
Earlier this year, SECAmb set out its target operating model for virtual care, looking to build on existing success and introduce a unified digital approach to support “more predictable” waits, improved risk identification, and smoother patient flow. It proposes that the new model will offer more consistency in clinical assessment for patients, expanded alternatives to ED conveyance, improved partnership working through more accurate referrals and shared records, and standardisation across tools, digital integration, and clinical escalation or advice points to support staff.
An update on its digital transformation programme also highlighted priority workstreams for clinical productivity, including auto-allocation of calls (hear & treat), with emergency operations centre roll out in Q1 2026/27; automation of its emergency crew advice line process with go-live expected by the end of Q3 2026/27; and ongoing work to optimise EPR information flows. Automation of clinical audit is currently being scoped, with plans for delivery in Q3 2026/27.
Wider trend: Health AI
North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is looking to “the road ahead” in its latest trust strategy, recognising the increasing role that tech, data, and AI will play in shaping urgent and emergency care delivery. “Doing more of the same is not a viable option,” the trust reports. “As demand continues to grow and evolve, relying on models designed for a different context would place increasing pressure on patients, colleagues and partners. NEAS must therefore adapt by design rather than by circumstance.”
With the publication of the latest budget for 2026, the government has reaffirmed its commitment on AI for productivity, increasing opportunities for sovereign AI, AI for biosecurity, and exploring quantum technologies. For health specifically, the government will launch the Chancellor’s AI Challenge Prize as an annual competition, with the first round to offer a top award of up to £2.5 million for promising solutions to priority healthcare challenges. An independent review has also been commissioned into NHS productivity and the opportunities offered by AI and technology, reporting in early 2027.
The North West Radiotherapy Network, made up of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; has published a research strategy setting out priority actions for data, AI, automation, and digital systems over the next five years. The ambition, the network provides, is to create a research ecosystem capable of delivering more equitable radiotherapy through collaboration and innovation, with common principles for the radiotherapy research community, and a “local where possible, centralised when required” approach.
