The government is encouraging NHS organisations across England to use a new national registry of 19 suppliers for AI technology during consultations.

While some scepticism remains from doctors about the use of AI within a healthcare setting, the government, business and consumers have embraced the technology wholeheartedly. 

The latest Barclays Business Prosperity Index showed that healthcare companies plan to increase investment in AI over the next 12 months, and the recent EY Consumer Health Study indicated a strong appetite from consumers for smart homes and digital health solutions to help them age independently.

The government is now backing the use of AI note-taking rules in surgeries. 

It is encouraging NHS organisations across England to take advantage of a new national registry of 19 suppliers for the technology, which captures clinician-patient conversations and uses AI to generate real-time transcriptions and clinical summaries.

It believes that embracing the cutting-edge tools, known as ambient voice technologies, could save clinicians up to two or three minutes for each patient consultation, which would free up more time for them to see other patients.

“AI notetaking tools will help free up more time for clinicians to focus on their patients, rather than typing up notes or looking at a screen – enhancing the quality of consultations and improving overall patient satisfaction,” said NHS England national chief clinical information officer Alec Price-Forbes. 

“We are working with NHS organisations to help them implement the technology safely and effectively – helping to make the NHS the most AI-enabled healthcare system in the world, as we shift from analogue to digital.”

Increasing patient interaction

NHS England has published a self-certified registry for the technology, which requires suppliers to comply with standards on clinical safety, technology and data protection. 

The registry of suppliers is being launched following NHS guidance published last year advising NHS organisations to use AI notetaking tools which are safe, evidence-based and deliver benefits for patients.

AI notetaking technology tested across nine NHS sites has been proven to free up clinicians to spend nearly a quarter more time with patients.

An NHS England-sponsored study published last year found that AI-scribing technology can reduce clinician workload while improving patient care, with the potential to unlock millions of pounds worth of activity if rolled out nationally. Led by Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust’s Innovation Unit (GOSH DRIVE), it was conducted across nine NHS sites in London to assess the impact of an AI-scribing tool.

More than 17,000 patient encounters were evaluated across a diverse range of sites, including hospitals, GP practices, mental health services and ambulance teams.

Results showed a 23.5% increase in direct patient interaction time during appointments, alongside an 8.2% reduction in overall appointment length when AI-scribes were used. A&E saw particularly strong results, with a 13.4% increase in patients seen per shift.