3 January 2026
In December, Stephen Beattie (Interim Director of Strategic Planning and Customer Engagement) presented on AI (Artificial Intelligence) in Healthcare at the NIPEC conference.
The NIPEC (Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery) conference: Stabilise, Reform and Deliver, was the platform for the launch of the Career and Development Model for Nursing and Midwifery and the Quality Excellence Framework (QEF).
The QEF was developed in partnership with colleagues across HSC and aims to provide assurance of high-quality care and professional practice across organisations.
During the conference, Stephen explored opportunities and risks associated with AI in nursing and midwifery. Stephen explained what AI is and showcased real world examples of how AI is and can be used effectively in healthcare delivery. Stephen outlined the pros and cons, the benefits, the challenges and importantly how this relate to day to day practice in nursing and midwifery.
Stephen showcased some of the successful healthcare AI initiatives focusing on what is being done and the planning within HSCNI in the AI space.
Stephen explained that consideration needed to be given to Explainability and Transparency; Adoption and Acceptance; Rigorous Testing and Validation; Data Privacy and Security; Ethical Guidelines and Regulations; Accountability and Sustainability / cost. Stephen referenced the guidance and regulations from the various professional bodies and finished with a perspective on how human and AI can combine effectively and are complementary and not in conflict.
The conference was a huge success with over 150 nurses and midwives from across Northern Ireland attending. The Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt launched the Career Development Model, noting that it provides clear pathways for progression and personal development, whether in clinical practice, leadership, education, or research. To learn more, follow the link, https://nipec.hscni.net/
Pictured: Professor Maria McIlgorm (Chief Nursing Officer) Stephen Beattie and Linda Kelly (NIPEC Chief Executive)
