The Rapid Evaluation Conference, organised by the Nuffield Trust and the Health Foundation's Improvement Analytics Unit, took place on Wednesday 14 May 2025 at the British Medical Association.
New technologies are rapidly emerging in health and social care, bringing a great deal of hope, but as yet, few examples of success at scale. From the use of AI in diagnostics to the expansion of digital care records, the shift to digital brings opportunity but also great uncertainty. As ever, the sector’s ability to provide robust and timely evidence, and to make effective decisions, will be key to its success.
Now in its seventh year, the conference brought together representatives from the rapid evaluation community, including analysts, evaluators, services users, policy makers, commissioners and local decision makers to explore how to make the most of the shift to digital. We considered the use of new technologies in complex systems, the risks to fair healthcare, and the many opportunities and challenges for rapid evaluation.
Watch the recorded sessions
We also held two unrecorded sessions: a practical session on AI as a tool in evidence synthesis; and a reflection on a case study, evaluating the use of AI in radiology to make diagnostic decisions.