Artificial intelligence (AI) is being introduced into healthcare systems to support clinicians, but it cannot replace the human expertise and intuition of nurses, according to Peter Wharton-Hood, CEO of Life Healthcare. He made the remarks during a panel discussion on The Power Behind Care for International Nurses’ Day, responding to a question from Bizcommunity about the growing role of AI in healthcare.
Wharton-Hood said Life Healthcare is actively testing AI applications across its hospitals and institutions through pilot programmes, aiming to determine where and how the technology can be most effectively applied. He stressed that the organisation is taking a measured approach, carefully assessing whether AI improves clinical decision-making and patient outcomes without introducing unnecessary costs or complexity.
He noted that AI could eventually play a supporting role in multiple areas of hospital operations, including ward rounds, pharmaceutical assessment, and broader clinical decision-making processes. However, he emphasised that its adoption must remain practical and financially sustainable. In one pilot project conducted at a major hospital in Pretoria, AI tools improved convenience at the bedside, but the associated costs were deemed too high for the current healthcare system.
“As technology evolves, there are more cost-effective ways of accessing it, and we will continue developing these tools with nursing teams,” Wharton-Hood said, adding that any implementation must ensure the benefits outweigh the financial burden.
The discussion comes amid growing global interest in AI’s role in healthcare, particularly in addressing workforce pressures. A study from the University of the Witwatersrand found that more than half of ICU nurses at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto experienced burnout, highlighting the strain on healthcare workers in South Africa.
Internationally, AI tools are already being explored to reduce administrative workloads and improve efficiency. At UCLA Health in the United States, nursing teams have reported that AI systems help streamline documentation and reduce cognitive burden, potentially easing burnout among clinicians. However, nursing leaders there have also emphasised that AI should serve only as a supportive tool.
Donna Wellbaum, chief nursing informatics officer at UCLA Health, said AI may enhance efficiency but cannot replace the essential human aspects of nursing. “It’s never here to take away that human element or the critical thinking that’s so vital to being a nurse,” she said.
Across healthcare systems, the emerging consensus is that while AI may assist with data processing, workflow optimisation, and decision support, it remains a complement to—not a substitute for—the judgment, empathy, and experience of nursing professionals.