AI and Automation in Locum Healthcare: 2026 and Beyond

AI has moved from hype to hospital corridors. In the UK and Ireland, virtual wards and remote monitoring are scaling, AI-enabled triage and diagnostics are being piloted and adopted, and regulators are sharpening guidance for software and AI as medical devices. This shift won’t replace clinicians but it will change how locum doctors work, and which skills are most in demand.

Where AI is already showing up

1) Triage and patient flow
Digital and AI-assisted triage tools are improving throughput and prioritisation in emergency and urgent care. Early case studies point to faster check-ins and better flow, with algorithms supporting (not supplanting) clinical judgement. Expect more EDs and urgent treatment centres to trial or adopt these tools through 2026.

2) Diagnostics and decision support
From dermatology to diabetes risk prediction, the NHS has been piloting AI that can rule out low-risk cases, surface high-risk patients, and reduce waiting lists—freeing clinicians to focus attention where it matters most. These deployments illustrate the “augmented clinician” model that locums will increasingly navigate.

3) Virtual wards and remote monitoring
“Hospital at home” capacity has expanded markedly, with monthly England statistics tracking capacity and occupancy and Ireland running a national virtual ward programme. This pushes more care into homes and communities and creates demand for locums who are confident with remote monitoring platforms, escalation protocols, and tech-enabled multidisciplinary working.

4) Automation of clinical admin
NHS policy conversations for 2025 highlight automation and robotics, everything from surgical robots to voice-assisted documentation and process automation—to boost productivity and reduce administrative burden. Locums who can work efficiently alongside these tools will be at an advantage.

What this means for locum demand and day-to-day work

Broader settings, different rhythms

With virtual wards and home-based care, locum shifts are not confined to hospital floors. Expect more roles in community hubs, digital command centres and hybrid models combining in-person and remote reviews. Demand grows for clinicians who can confidently manage remote observation dashboards, recognise deterioration early and escalate appropriately.

Skill mix evolution

• Digital literacy & data awareness: Understanding what an AI tool is (and isn’t), reading model outputs and uncertainty, and documenting decisions made with decision support. NHS England’s AI resources and case studies from the NHS AI Lab are great primers.
• Workflow adaptability: Comfort switching between in-person and virtual touchpoints, and collaborating with remote monitoring teams.
• Governance in practice: Recognising regulated AI/“software as a medical device” (SaMD) tools, knowing when clinical override is appropriate, and recording rationale in line with good practice and local policy.

Specialty hotspots

• ED/Urgent care: Triage tools and demand/capacity analytics shift staffing to earlier, faster assessment; locums adept with digital triage and safety-netting will be valued.
• Dermatology, radiology-adjacent roles, long-term conditions: AI helps rule out low-risk cases, speeding pathways and creating roles focused on reviewing edge cases, complex presentations, and communicating results.
• Community & frailty care: Virtual wards need escalation-savvy clinicians comfortable with tele-review, remote vitals, and multidisciplinary coordination.

The regulatory and ethical backdrop you’ll work within

The UK MHRA is progressing a major change programme for software and AI as medical devices, covering the full lifecycle from classification to post-market oversight. NICE has set expectations around evidence generation for AI, and the WHO has issued governance guidance for large multimodal models. In short: adoption is accelerating, but frameworks for safety, transparency and evaluation are tightening, something every locum should be aware of when documenting use of AI-enabled tools.

Ireland’s next phase of healthcare transformation also highlights virtual wards, a national shared care record, intelligent automation and AI—so locums crossing the Irish Sea should expect similar trends and competencies to be in demand.

Practical steps for locum doctors (2026 playbook)

Audit your digital skillset
List the AI-adjacent tools you’ve used (e.g., digital triage, decision support, e-prescribing with safety checks, dictation, remote monitoring dashboards). Capture outcomes or improvements (e.g., reduced wait times, clearer documentation). Align to NHS/HSE priorities and include this evidence in your CV.

Build governance fluency
Know the basics of SaMD/AI regulation (MHRA in the UK; keep an eye on NICE positions) and your responsibilities when using algorithmic support: confirm indications, check versioning, and document clinical oversight. This helps during audits and reassures clients.

Prepare for virtual ward workflows
Get comfortable with remote observation thresholds, escalation pathways, and communicating with patients and carers at home. If you’ve not worked on a virtual ward yet, pursue CPD or short placements to gain exposure.

Stay evidence-led and sceptical
AI tools vary in maturity. Seek local evaluation data, understand limitations (bias, false negatives/positives), and escalate when something feels clinically off. Use AI to augment, not replace, your judgement.

Lean into communication
As automation strips out some admin, the differentiator remains human: explaining results, shared decision-making, safety-netting, and compassionate care, especially over telehealth.

Outlook: 2026–2028

By 2026, national programmes suggest more structured AI adoption with clearer guidance, growing virtual ward capacity, and wider use of targeted AI in diagnostics and triage. For locum doctors, this means more opportunities but also a premium on adaptability, digital competence, and governance-aware practice. The locum who can join a team and be productive from day one with AI-enabled workflows will stand out.

Get in touch with our dedicated team as we nurture a community in which locums can flourish and extend exceptional care to their patients. For more information on any of our roles contact a member of our Locum Express team on +353 (0)21 4297901 or email us at info@locumexpress.ie. You can also register online here.