NICE has published its Early Value Assessment (HTG779) on artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted echocardiography for the diagnosis and monitoring of heart failure. This marks an important step in the national conversation around AI in imaging - acknowledging its potential, while setting clear expectations for its current role in NHS practice. Ms Sadie Bennett, Trustee of the British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) shares what this means for BSE members.
The headline message
NICE reviewed four technologies (Echoconfidence, EchoGo Heart Failure, Ligence Heart, and Us2.ai) designed to support analysis and reporting following a standard transthoracic echocardiogram for the assessment of heart failure performed by accredited echocardiographers.
The conclusion is clear: there is currently insufficient evidence to support routine NHS adoption or funding. Instead, these technologies have been placed in an “early-use” category, meaning they can be used in:
- Research settings
- Evaluation programmes
- Services supported by non-core funding
Why not adopt now?
While early studies and modelling suggest promise, NICE highlights a lack of robust, UK-based, real-world evidence demonstrating:
- Clinical impact
- Cost-effectiveness
- Service-level benefits
What this means for BSE members
- No immediate change to practice
There is no requirement to change current workflows. Image acquisition, interpretation, and clinical decision-making remain firmly within the expertise of the echocardiography workforce.
- A clear opportunity to get involved
The “early-use” recommendation creates a valuable window for departments to:
- Participate in pilot studies and evaluations
- Contribute real-world evidence
- Help shape how AI is implemented across the NHS
- Evolving roles, not reduced roles
AI is likely to augment practice, not replace it. In practical terms, this may mean:
- Greater responsibility for validating AI outputs
- Increased importance of advanced interpretation skills
- Changes in workflow, rather than reductions in workload
- Strong signal for the future
Despite the cautious stance, the direction is clear:
- AI in echocardiography is a national priority
- Further evidence generation is expected
- NICE will revisit this area as new data emerge
Looking ahead
This guidance represents a balanced and pragmatic milestone. It recognises the potential of AI, while emphasising the need for robust evidence, clinical oversight, and safe implementation.
Members are encouraged to work with industry, academia, and NHS partners to participate in structured pilots, contribute high-quality real-world data, and support transparent evaluation of AI assisted echocardiography tools in clinical practice.