The Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust (WAST) board has shared its digital KPIs, work on information governance, and discussed the risks surrounding unauthorised or inappropriate use of AI.
Granted a high risk status, the unauthorised or inappropriate use of AI tech such as ChatGPT “outside of approved organisational channels or without appropriate governance” was considered. The trust points to the potential for information shared or returned by such tools to breach information security and data protection controls, adding that “use of the output may breach transparency, medical device, equality, Welsh Language and ethical requirements”. The board also noted that the prospect of a deep dive session on AI-driven cyber threats was supported by members as a means of knowledge development.
On progress around WAST’s digital plan and digital KPIs, the trust notes “significant pressures” due to competing priorities and limited capacity for digital teams, with the trust sharing ongoing efforts to recruit for 26 additional roles.
An area of current focus is a refresh of the WAST electronic patient care record application, which has reportedly received formal approval. Here, the trust outlines three key mitigations to be worked on, covering the design of the ePCR user interface, clinician interaction with the ePCR, and the accuracy of the scripting to extract the data from the data warehouse to create reports.
Updates on IG include the launch of an AI steering group, and a celebration of “the highest ever IG mandatory training rate” at 89.61 percent. Cyber improvement work across the trust is ongoing, and the board highlights its plans to tackle “a temporary rise in dormant accounts”. New KPIs have been introduced around reporting and data quality awareness, and recent data breaches associated with social media have resulted in the launch of a new awareness campaign.
Continuing on IG, the board states: “WhatsApp-related data breaches are under review, with a possible ban on corporate devices. Emphasis was placed on strong communication, clear policies, and line manager involvement to improve IG compliance, especially regarding social media and personal device use.” Although both physical and online records management are described as “challenging” due to volume, WAST reports that records management plans are in place or in the process of being developed.
The trust highlights that it has signed an all-Wales Joint Controller Agreement under the National Data Resource Programme, as “the first step of a series of information governance assurances and requirements to enable compliant use of this DHCW managed platform”.
Elsewhere, the board discussed ongoing data access issues and investment options to address them, the potential for the use of AI in data interrogation, enabling better self-serve reporting “to eliminate manual cottage industries”, and the creation of a digital transformation and innovation programme to help prioritise digital and data requests. Also noted were opportunities to advance data sharing by working with the national data repository, and the need to focus on data quality and education around data variation by way of preparation for effective AI use, with a requirement for investment of resources in order to progress.
Wider trend: Managing risks and opportunities for AI
We were joined for a practical HTN Now webinar taking a deep dive into AI in health and care by expert panellists Peter Thomas, chief clinical information officer and director of digital development at Moorfields Eye Hospital; Sally Mole, senior digital programme manager – digital portfolio delivery team at The Dudley Group; and Ananya Datta, associate director of primary care digital delivery, South East London ICS. The session shared approaches, best practices, challenges, successes and learnings for the practical implementation of AI technologies across health and care, with our panel offering insight into current work, future plans, and ongoing collaborations in areas such as Ambient AI.
HTN was joined by a panel of experts from across the health sector for a focused webinar on the use of ambient scribe technology in NHS trusts. Panellists included Lauren Riddle, transformation programme manager at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare (HIoW); Ynez Symonds, CNIO at HIoW; Dom Pimenta, co-founder and CEO at Tortus AI; and Stuart Kyle, consultant rheumatologist and clinical lead for outpatient transformation at Royal Devon University Hospital. Our panel discussed the practicalities and considerations for ambient scribe implementations, from operating procedures and policies, integration and functionality, through to best practices around patient-practitioner interactions.
An AI Policy from Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) NHS Foundation Trust has set out a guiding framework to ensure “the appropriate deployment, management, and oversight of AI systems across the DBTH partners”. Its scope covers all departments and services, and AI systems either internally developed or procured from external suppliers. In accordance with the policy, the SIRO will hold responsibility for the overall governance and management of information risks associated with AI systems, ensuring appropriate risk management processes, controls, and policies are in place, as well as addressing risks and adverse impacts.
