NHS urges sector to take advantage of AI scribes

NHS England has urged clinicians to take advantage of AI scribe technology, after publishing a list of 19 registered suppliers.

On 15 January 2026, NHS England said that the self-certified registry for suppliers of AI notetaking tools “requires suppliers to comply with standards on clinical safety, technology and data protection”.

“Embracing the cutting-edge tools, known as ambient voice technologies [AVTs], could save clinicians up to two or three minutes for each patient consultation, freeing up more time for them to see other patients,” it added.

AVTs listen to conversations between patients and healthcare professionals, after which they generate a transcript and clinical summary of the consultation. These outputs can be transformed into clinical notes and used to populate health records, or generate letters for patients or referral letters to other clinicians.

Alec Price-Forbes, national chief clinical information officer at NHS England, said: “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.

“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.”

AVTs were piloted by the NHS at nine sites across London between May 2024 and April 2025. The pilot was run by Great Ormond Street Hospital’s Data Research, Innovation and Virtual Environments Unit.

A report on the pilot, published in July 2025, revealed that using the tools led to a 51.7% reduction in documentation time at the individual clinician level.

Use of the AVT tool led to a 26.3% reduction in consultation length, which saved an average of 3 minutes and 13 seconds per consultation, the report found. It also revealed that the tools helped save an average of 6 minutes per documentation task — down from 12 minutes to 6 minutes — or an average of 47 minutes per shift.

Guidance on the use of AI scribes was first published by the NHS in April 2025. The guidance has now been updated to include the full supplier list.

Layla McCay, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, commented: “When rolled out properly and in suitable contexts, AI tools have shown the potential to improve NHS productivity and address specific challenges faced by organisations.

“The registry and the tools listed on it can help NHS clinicians choose the best technology to support their work, and this is to be lauded.” 

However, McCay added: “Some organisations may have poor or incompatible infrastructure for AVT tools, while others lack reliable wifi and secure platforms. Continued capital investment is therefore vital to ensure the NHS can develop and maintain the infrastructure needed to make the most of AI technologies.

“NHS staff also need appropriate training to learn how to use these tools effectively.”

Tase Oputu, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s English Pharmacy Board, said: “AI scribes have real potential to support pharmacists during patient consultations by reducing administrative workload and freeing up more time for direct patient care.

“At the moment, use of AI scribes in pharmacy and wider primary care remains limited and the technology is still developing. Integration with existing clinical systems is essential, as is ensuring that any AI‑generated notes are accurate, clinically appropriate and easy to verify. Data security and clarity about how patient information is handled are also critical to maintaining trust.

“With strong national governance, clear safety assurance processes and training in place, AI scribes could become a valuable tool to support safe and effective consultations. We want to see continued national leadership and investment so that these technologies are integrated safely, work seamlessly across systems and genuinely enhance the care pharmacists provide.”