NHS Providers and IBM have jointly launched an Artificial Intelligence Productivity Centre designed to help NHS trusts make cost‑effective use of new technology. The initiative aims to reduce inefficiencies and help healthcare leaders distinguish between genuinely useful digital solutions and those offering limited benefit.
Cutting Through the Noise
The centre has been established in response to growing concern that NHS organisations are being overwhelmed by the number of AI products entering the healthcare market. Many trusts report difficulty in identifying which innovations will deliver measurable productivity gains or clinical value. The new centre will provide practical guidance, case studies and evaluation frameworks to support better procurement and implementation decisions.
NHS Providers said the goal was to help leaders ‘cut through the noise’ and focus on tools that improve patient outcomes, operational efficiency and workforce productivity. It will also advise on governance, data management and regulatory compliance — key factors in safely scaling AI across the NHS.
A Collaboration Between NHS Providers and IBM
The partnership combines IBM’s expertise in analytics and automation with NHS Providers’ understanding of operational challenges within the health service. Together, they will develop resources to assess AI readiness, share best practice and showcase examples of where digital technology has delivered tangible results.
The centre will also facilitate peer learning among NHS organisations, allowing trusts to share their experiences and avoid repeating common implementation mistakes.
Supporting the NHS Efficiency Agenda
AI adoption is a key part of the NHS’s strategy to improve productivity and financial sustainability. However, limited digital maturity and uneven infrastructure investment have made it difficult for some organisations to realise expected savings. The new productivity centre will seek to bridge this gap by promoting evidence‑based approaches and highlighting technologies with proven cost‑reduction potential.
NHS Providers chief executive Julian Hartley said the initiative reflected the sector’s need for practical, not promotional, advice on technology. He emphasised that digital transformation must align with clinical priorities and frontline realities rather than technology hype.
Next Steps
The AI Productivity Centre will begin its work later this year, starting with a series of workshops for NHS leaders and digital directors. It will publish an initial report early next year summarising lessons from early adopters and outlining recommendations for national policy and procurement frameworks.
Both organisations hope the initiative will help the NHS make better decisions about where to invest in AI, ensuring that technology serves as a tool for improvement rather than an additional source of complexity.
