Glasgow Caledonian University launches new health and social care AI module  

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) has launched a new module designed to educate health and social care professionals on the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on their work. 

The course, which is fully online and will run from January to May, was developed in response to calls for a greater level of education to understand the real-world effects of AI in the workplace.  

"AI is nothing without the human touch,” said Claire Currie, who led the development of the course at GCU. “It’s not about robots - it’s about collaboration and the people who shape how AI is used. That’s especially true in healthcare.” 

The module is designed to build confidence using AI systems, while also developing the critical understanding and professional insight needed to effectively use the many AI tools and techniques available to health and social care professionals.  

"It’s ideal for anyone working in frontline primary health or social care who wants to understand how to embrace AI in their everyday practice,” said Currie. “There are so many ways healthcare professionals can use AI to improve their own practice, from clinical care to service delivery. One of the biggest outcomes is that participants will stop being afraid of AI. They will understand how to protect data, explore the ethical issues, validate AI tools and even begin to develop their own ideas.” 

AI usage has become more prevalent in the healthcare space, as the technology advances at a rapid pace. A 2024 study by The Alan Turing Institute revealed that one in four doctors regularly use AI systems like ChatGPT in their practices. 

According to a 2024 report from the Scottish Government, a “small number of AI applications” are already in use at clinical practices in NHS Scotland with a number of AI tools being developed in the country.  

At Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, a team led by PhD student Tess Watt has developed an AI-powered tool that can be used to detect signs of skin cancer from an image. The tool, which is small enough to fit in the hand, is designed to bring fast, potentially life-saving diagnoses to people who may face long waits or travel times to see a dermatologist. 

The impact of AI on the actual cost of healthcare is “uncertain” according to the government’s paper, but the technology does have the potential to “cut workloads” and increase efficiency in a health service that is struggling to cope with large waiting lists. 

A recent report from the Scottish Parliament highlighted that waiting lists for ADHD and autism diagnoses can be up to ten years long, prompting the Royal College of Psychiatrists to warn the government that Scotland’s health service has reached a “breaking point.”