38% of UK employees have experienced AI in their most recent healthcare journey
73% trust AI being used in their healthcare journey (diagnosis, treatment, claims, etc.)
44% of UK businesses would like to see AI-powered care adopted more widely
London 2026 – The majority (73%) of UK employees now trust the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare journeys, according to Howden Employee Benefits’ Changing Face of Employee Health report.
The use of AI in the healthcare sector is growing – a trend set to rise rapidly as healthcare innovators are identifying new ways in which AI can help improve the effectiveness, efficiency and availability of care for patients. But it does not take innovation alone to drive adoption, and it is a very positive sign to see the growing level of employee trust in AI in healthcare.
And this isn’t just theory, with more than a third (38%) of UK employees having experienced some form of AI in their most recent healthcare journey. Specifically, 19% of employees experienced AI during the diagnosis journey, followed by 18% who said it was used as part of a treatment plan.
It doesn’t stop there, either – 18% have also had AI involved in a remote health monitoring capacity, while 15% administered their plan through AI capabilities. There is very little of the end-to-end healthcare journey that isn’t being touched by AI already.
We’ve talked about trust in AI, but what has this meant for the patient experience? 26% of those engaging with AI during their journey said it worked well in their healthcare journey, and 19% believe it was quicker and more efficient. All looking good so far.
All of this positive response to AI in healthcare is now prompting more employers to look at how AI is applied across their employee benefits programmes. Indeed, 44% of UK businesses would like to see AI-powered care adopted more widely.
In terms of how UK businesses view AI as delivering the most value, smart diagnosis and screening leads the way with 52% believing this will deliver value, followed by:
36% – Claims processing and approvals
36% – Virtual GP or triage service
34% – Predictive analysis for high-cost claims
19% – Fraud detection or prevention
Only 5% are not considering using AI
In addition to the improvements in diagnoses and patient journeys, the use of AI may help mitigate the impact of the medical inflation rate of 10.6% faced by businesses across the world. Early detection is known to lead to lower treatment requirements, as just one example of cost impact.
Matthew Gregson, Executive Director at Howden Employee Benefits, comments: “Healthcare isn’t the first industry to be revolutionised by AI, nor will it be the last – but consumer trust is more critical in healthcare than almost anywhere else. Health providers are building AI into their journeys in a way that directly and tangibly boosts trust. Employees consent to it because it often creates a better care pathway, with less intrusive appointments like digital dental assessments or mole-detection scans. That’s great news for employers, who benefit from earlier diagnoses, a healthier workforce, and better ROI on their employee benefit investments.
“A word of warning, though – the use of AI in healthcare is best left to the experts. Providers are pouring millions of pounds into ensuring patients get the best care and are doing due diligence on new solutions coming to market every day. With all of that time and investment, together with the regulatory environment, it is safer to harness AI in this way, rather than try to build in-house tools or adopt unproven solutions. Carefully selecting a great third-party provider is likely to be a safer, better value, and more effective option for 99% of firms.”
