The UK government will accept all 44 recommendations from the National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare. It will publish a full implementation plan by spring 2027. A draft set of proposals will be released before the end of 2026. The recommendations include staged authorisations for healthcare AIs, akin to learner driver 'L plates'. The current regulatory framework was deemed inadequate for AI medical devices. The UK aims to adopt a world-leading agile approach to AI device regulation. A new approach will manage changes to AI-enabled medical devices over time. The MHRA opened applications for the third phase of its AI Airlock regulatory sandbox. The new phase will implement the commission’s recommendations immediately. Work on a framework to qualify and classify AI-enabled medical devices will start in 2027.
What changed
The UK had no staged authorisation pathway for healthcare AI tools.
What it unlocks
Testing AI tools in controlled NHS environments before wider rollout.
- 44 recommendations accepted
- implementation plan by spring 2027
- draft proposals by end of 2026
- AI Airlock phase 3 applications open
What you need to act on it
- AI tool deployment in the NHS
- MHRA regulatory framework adoption
Sources