AI in healthcare education: How HEIW is building safe, practical foundations for Wales
Over the last year AI has progressed rapidly and we need to embrace the potential AI has to transform education, as if we don't who will?
Of course we need to consider ethics and common baselines in our approach, but our people are already using AI, so we have to move to support and equip them safely. AI needs to sit fully within strategies not alongside them, so within HEIW we are working to positively harness AI, innovating, making improvements and building for the future.
Our AI journey is already well underway, progress so far includes:
Building a strategic, responsible approach to AI
- AI Education & Skills Landscape Review: We have completed an all-Wales review of AI literacy, skills and needs across the primary and community care workforce. The findings are now informing IMTP planning, our future priorities and costed options
- Safeguarding AI guardrails: We have developed clear organisational guardrails for the safe, ethical and proportionate use of generative AI in education, training and assessment. These principles are being embedded into internal projects and guidance
- Board development and governance: A dedicated AI Board development session has helped shape HEIW’s organisational “north star” for AI, focusing on opportunity, risk, principles and guardrails rather than simple risk aversion
- Alignment with national policy: Our work is increasingly aligned with the emerging Welsh Government Office for AI and CDPS, ensuring workforce education and skills are central to Wales’ wider AI agenda.
Raising AI literacy and capability across NHS Wales
- Foundations in AI module: We have designed and launched our first system wide AI literacy offer on Y Ty Dysgu, our online learning platform giving NHS Wales staff a common foundation in how AI works, its risks, and how to use it safely
- HALI – Healthcare AI Learning Interface: We launched HALI, an AI mentor embedded within Y Ty Dysgu, providing role-specific support to staff on how AI can (and cannot) be safely used in their day-to-day work
- Education first; experimentation second; safety always: This core message now underpins our AI education, communications and guidance, framing AI as something to be understood and governed, not just trialled.
Innovation, tools and real world exploration
- AI Ambient Scribe briefing: We have produced a detailed briefing for AI ambient scribes, outlining potential benefits, risks, governance requirements and next steps for exploring AI enabled documentation support in primary care.
- Safe development patterns: AI projects (e.g. HALI and future mentors) are being developed using DPIAs, risk logs and structured assurance processes to create a repeatable, safe pattern for future AI work.
Engagement, influence and thought leadership
- We have represented Wales at key events including the Four Nations Responsible AI in Healthcare Education Conference, RCPSG President’s Conference, Digital Leaders AI Week and HPMA Cymru, sharing practical insights on AI literacy, mentoring tools and responsible adoption.
- Internally, we have delivered multiple sessions for staff, simulation and clinical skills faculty, and primary care networks, helping demystify AI for non-technical audiences and encourage safe, confident experimentation.
Our work has already raised awareness around AI and its benefits, colleagues are embracing a shared language that brings a common set of terms, definitions and mutual understanding, enhancing communication, collaboration and trust. Guidance has encouraged safer experimentation, reduced confusion and increased confidence when using AI tools in day to day work.
During 2026 we will use the strong foundations laid over the last 12 months to continue to lead the way, further exploring how we can use AI in healthcare education and increase AI literacy across the NHS Wales workforce. Our work will include:
Expansion of AI mentors
We will build on our Healthcare AI Learning Interface ‘HALI,’ the groundbreaking AI chatbot that gives 1-1 tailored learning experiences, developing a broader suite of AI mentors tailored to different professions, settings and learning needs across NHS Wales.
And we will use data, user feedback and evaluation to refine HALI and future mentors, ensuring they deliver real value and remain safe, reliable tools.
Exploring new AI use cases
We will continue to explore how AI can support:
- education and assessment
- simulation and clinical skills training
- documentation and admin burden
- personalised learning and digital capability building across the workforce.
Embedding AI as “business as usual”
We will work further towards our aim where responsible AI, guided by HEIW’s guardrails, education offers and mentors becomes a normal part of how HEIW designs, delivers and evaluates education and training for NHS Wales.
We will keep you informed as we continue our AI journey, working to ensure AI works for the good of NHS Wales, it’s not for financial gain, it’s not about creating short cuts but it is about driving better patient care.
Future updates will show how we are building a strategic, responsible approach to using AI and how we are raising AI literacy and capability across NHS Wales.
Further information on HALI and work we have already undertaken is on our website:
Introducing HALI: Empowering Wales' healthcare workforce with AI - HEIW
A big week for AI in health and care – and a proud moment for Wales - HEIW
A safe place for NHS Wales healthcare professionals to learn AI - HEIW
Craig Barker & Dr Alex Aubrey
Digital, Data and Insight
Health Education and Improvement Wales