Practice position
AI assists. People decide.
Use approved systems, minimise information, check important output and keep accountable professional judgement human-led.
Test the claim
Separate what the product demonstrably does from marketing language. Ask for evidence on the intended function, population and setting, including failure modes and performance across relevant groups.
Understand the service behind the interface
Identify model providers, sub-processors, processing locations, retention, training use, security, audit logs and update arrangements. Clarify what changes without customer approval and how performance will be monitored after an update.
Plan for people and exit
Assess accessibility, staff workload, service-user trust, non-digital alternatives and support. Contracts should address incident notification, data return or deletion, portability and what happens if the supplier or model changes.
Practical checklist
- Define need and non-AI alternative
- Match evidence to intended claim
- Map data and sub-processors
- Check DTAC or regulatory routes where relevant
- Agree audit, update and exit arrangements
Authoritative starting sources
NHS Digital Technology Assessment Criteria ↗NICE Evidence Standards Framework ↗Written by Tony D’Agostino / TD Consultancy. Reviewed . This page provides general professional education, not legal or clinical advice.