Manchester NHS tests AI tools in real-world care settings

A partnership between the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) will speed up the evaluation of new healthcare technologies in actual clinical settings. Under the Manchester Sandbox initiative, AI-driven medical devices and other innovations will be deployed within live NHS environments. This will produce real-world evidence on their safety, effectiveness, and practical benefits before they are adopted more widely across the health service.

The first priority for the sandbox will be technologies that detect patients at greater risk of complications from long-term conditions, allowing for earlier medical action. While many such tools demonstrate strong results in controlled settings, their performance often falters when applied in everyday practice. The program is designed to address that inconsistency by testing innovations in genuine NHS conditions.

The MHRA and MFT will work with technology creators, healthcare professionals, and regulators from the earliest development phases. They will apply proportionate oversight and defined safeguards as these tools interact with patients and staff, balancing speed with patient protection. This collaborative structure aims to cut unnecessary delays while maintaining rigorous safety standards.

Lawrence Tallon, the MHRA’s Chief Executive, acknowledged that AI and other emerging technologies have enormous potential to improve patient care. “Manchester brings together the NHS, innovators, researchers and regulators to do exactly that. The learning from this programme could help shape how safe and effective technologies are introduced across the country, helping more patients benefit from innovation,” he said.

Mark Cubbon, Chief Executive of MFT, stressed that patients should benefit from innovation as quickly as possible, but they should never have to choose between access and safety. “This partnership brings together key partners earlier in the process so we can understand what works and how new technologies perform in real healthcare settings,” he said.