Public Embracing AI Adoption in NHS

NHS Data Privacy: The Trust Factor in UK AI

Recent research from KPMG UK surveyed 2,000 Britons and finds that the National Health Service (NHS) could be the secret weapon driving the UK to the top of the AI leaderboard. The key insight? Most people trust the NHS more than the big tech giants when it comes to sharing personal data for artificial‑intelligence projects.

Key Takeaways from the Survey

51 % of participants felt uneasy about data privacy.
Only 15 % were comfortable giving their data to pharma firms.
Even fewer were willing to share with charities (11 %), media (8 %), Internet (8 %) or political groups (7 %).
In stark contrast, 56 % said they’d hand over their personal information to the NHS if it meant better services.
When ranked against other institutions, the NHS also topped banks (47 %), the police (33 %) and the government (22 %) in willingness to support AI initiatives.

Why the NHS Holds the Crown

James Stewart, KPMG’s Vice Chair, summed it up before the Health and Care Innovation Expo: “The NHS is the one spot in daily life where scepticism about AI and data security evaporates. It turns the NHS’s vast trove of data into a national treasure that can super‑charge the UK’s AI ambitions.”

In short, the public is excited about AI in the NHS—ready for breakthroughs in patient care that could ripple across UK business culture.

KPMG’s Road‑Map to AI Supremacy

The firm’s fresh report, “How the UK can win the AI race” (with a foreword by MP Greg Clark), offers five bold steps:

Launch a national debate on what AI really means for everyone.
Formalise UK data‑regulation frameworks specifically for AI.
Create a British Standard of Trust—think of it like a badge that signals AI safety and data security.
Set up “Data Innovation Zones” where developers can safely tap into anonymised health data.
Tackle the skills gap by upskilling schools, fostering lifelong learning, and valuing subjects beyond STEM.