Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of artificial intelligence technologies by hospice and palliative care providers; and what safeguards are in place to ensure that those technologies maintain patient safety, data protection and equitable access to high-quality end of life care.

No formal assessment has been made of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies by hospices and other palliative care providers. The majority of hospices are independent charitable organisations and so are free to make their own decisions regarding the adoption and deployment of AI tools.

NHS England is dedicated to enabling the safe deployment and adoption of AI technologies, providing clear guidance on approval, implementation, information governance, security, privacy, and controls. NHS England provides guidance on how technologies should be selected, deployed, and scaled to ensure they are safe, effective, and eligible for National Health Service adoption, including accuracy. NHS trusts are expected to ensure that access to the AI tools they employ is safe, ethical, effective, and equitable for all within their remit.

Strict safeguards are in place across the NHS to guarantee patient safety, and data protection. All NHS organisations, including NHS palliative care and end-of-life care services, are expected to comply with Medical Devices Regulations (SI 2002 No 618, as amended) (UK MDR 2002) and digital clinical safety standards.

Providers handling patient data must comply with UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. Each health organisation is required to appoint a Caldicott Guardian, whose role is to advise on the protection and proper use of health and care data, including where AI is involved.