Could technology ever replace clinicians?

The pandemic has accentuated the importance of the NHS investing in digital capabilities, changing digitisation into a strategic imperative as opposed to a ’nice to have’. Meanwhile, many stories have been written in recent years suggesting that the likes of clinical decision support systems, artificial intelligence and big data analytics might soon be able to come to accurate diagnoses more effectively than humans.

So could technology ultimately replace clinicians? What is the role for clinical judgement in the age of digitisation? Where can digital capabilities play a role improving the safety and efficiency of clinical care, and where should human clinical input remain? How can healthcare organisations maximise return on investment in digital capabilities?

This HSJ webinar, run in association with Elsevier, brought together a small panel to discuss these provocative issues.