Safe adoption of Generative AI in healthcare: New training course launched

Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude and Copilot are increasingly appearing in healthcare workplaces. Across the sector, staff are experimenting with these tools to help structure information, draft documents and reduce administrative pressure.

Yet alongside this growing interest sits a familiar challenge. The policy, legal and governance landscape surrounding AI in healthcare remains complex and evolving. Questions around data protection, clinical safety, accountability and medical device regulation leave many professionals uncertain about how these tools should be used in practice.

In previous articles, we explored the wider context of AI adoption in healthcare, including what healthcare professionals need to know about AI in 2026 and whether organisations should adopt Generative AI now or wait for clearer guidance.

One theme consistently emerges: healthcare organisations need practical support to help staff use AI tools safely, responsibly and with confidence.

To help address this need, Skills for Health has launched a new eLearning course designed specifically for healthcare environments.

Introducing GenAI in Healthcare: Starting Safely

GenAI in Healthcare: Starting Safely is a 30-minute interactive eLearning course designed to help healthcare professionals understand how widely available Generative AI tools can be used responsibly in their roles.

Rather than focusing on technical AI development, the course concentrates on practical decision-making, helping learners understand where AI tools may provide appropriate support, where risks may arise, and how to approach AI use responsibly.

Participants explore:

• The policy and regulatory context surrounding AI use in healthcare
• Where Generative AI tools may provide appropriate support
• Where risks may arise, particularly in clinical or data-sensitive contexts
• How to take proportionate steps towards safe adoption

The course is grounded in the NHS policy and regulatory environment, reflecting expectations around areas such as data protection, clinical safety standards and professional accountability. Through realistic workplace scenarios, learners build confidence in making safe and informed decisions about AI use.

Why safe AI adoption matters

Used well, Generative AI has the potential to support safe productivity gains, reduce administrative burden and enable staff to focus more time on patient care. Realising those benefits, however, requires organisations to provide clear guidance and practical training so staff understand where AI may offer appropriate support, where additional caution or governance is needed, and how to maintain professional accountability when using these systems.

Responsible adoption also means recognising the broader impact of emerging technologies. While Generative AI can support efficiency, its use carries environmental costs associated with large-scale computing. Supporting healthcare professionals to use AI thoughtfully and proportionately therefore forms part of a wider commitment to safe, sustainable and responsible innovation in healthcare.

Why Skills for Health developed this course

Skills for Health has long supported the health and care workforce through the development of national frameworks, standards and workforce capability programmes.

As authors of nationally recognised workforce frameworks, including the Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF®), we believe it is essential that healthcare professionals are supported to adopt emerging technologies safely, sustainably and with confidence.

Our approach focuses on:

• Translating complex policy and governance requirements into practical workforce guidance
• Supporting safe, time-saving and sustainable professional practice
• Helping organisations navigate uncertainty with clear, proportionate learning solutions

The GenAI in Healthcare: Starting Safely course forms part of our wider commitment to supporting the healthcare sector as AI technologies continue to evolve.

Supporting confident and responsible AI use

As Generative AI tools continue to develop, healthcare organisations will increasingly need to support their workforce in understanding how these technologies can be used responsibly.

Training that focuses not just on awareness, but on practical decision-making, can help staff approach AI tools with greater confidence while maintaining appropriate professional oversight.

GenAI in Healthcare: Starting Safely provides a short, practical foundation for healthcare professionals looking to understand the opportunities and limitations of Generative AI in professional settings.