AI and Automation Centre of Excellence (CoE)

AI and Automation Centre of Excellence (CoE) helps the HSE deliver faster and more responsive care with use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

AI is part of the HSE’s strategy to build a data-driven health system that makes the best use of the health-related information we gain every day.

It helps to:

• support clinical decisions
• reduce manual tasks
• allow staff to focus more on patients

The AI and Automation CoE sets the rules for how AI tools should be used and supports new ideas and innovation. A growing AI and automation community also helps with this work by bringing together HSE staff who champion the use of AI. They share what they know and look for new opportunities for improvement.

What the HSE is developing

The HSE is building strong foundations to support AI.

This work includes:

• better data systems
• modern digital infrastructure
• clear processes for working with AI

Work is also underway to make data science and analytics part of every day healthcare in the HSE.

How AI is being developed

AI is developed through collaboration between strategy, delivery, governance, and clinical teams. Projects follow a clear process from idea to implementation, ensuring they are useful, safe, and scalable.

The HSE applies a strict governance framework based on the EU AI Act. AI projects are classified by risk.

High-risk systems must be:

• transparent
• looked at by a human
• clearly documented
• accurate

This approach ensures that AI is used ethically and responsibly across the health system.

Examples of AI used in the HSE

AI is used across a number of services in the HSE including:

• HR shared services
• Health Business Services (HBS) finance
• The Mater Hospital

These services have introduced Robotic Process Automation (RPA) which uses software robots to carry out repetitive admin tasks like data entry and file processing. This frees up staff to spend more time with patients.

Other examples include:

• Hospital Automation - University Hospital Galway introduced Ruadhán the Robot, a software robot to assist with patient referrals, reducing wait times and speeding up appointments
• Bowel Screening - automation has improved the speed and accuracy of processing test results in cancer screening programmes
• Microsoft Power Platform is a suite of tools used to assist teams to automate workflows, build custom apps, and analyse data. It enables faster problem-solving and better service delivery

Ruadhán the Robot - video

AI tools support clinical care by identifying patterns in data, predicting health risks, and guiding treatment decisions. These tools help clinicians act earlier and tailor care to patients.

What’s next

The HSE plans to expand the use of AI to improve patient outcomes, boost efficiency, and ease pressure on services.

This includes:

• scaling successful pilot projects
• advancing analytics
• providing better tools for staff

A national AI Strategy and Governance Framework will be published to ensure safe and ethical use of AI, aligned with the EU AI Act.

Contact

For more information on AI and Automation, email AIandAutomationCoE@hse.ie.