AQW 48894/22-27

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 17/06/2026
Answered On Date: 01/07/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether any consideration has been given to the use of Artificial Intelligence-assisted tools, such as Copilot, to reduce clinician workload and improve productivity as part of the EpicCare Link system.

Answer:

EpicCare Link is a component of the encompass system which provides authorised users with predominantly read‑only access to clinical information to support continuity of care. While the encompass system as a whole supports a wide range of clinical and operational processes across Health and Social Care, EpicCare Link is a specific component focused on information access and does not in itself drive these activities.

Consideration is being given to the potential role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) assisted tools, including solutions such as Copilot, across the wider encompass programme and the Health and Social Care digital landscape in Northern Ireland.