The UK government has set out plans to tackle NHS wait times by providing doctors with AI assistants to write up clinical notes and medical letters. The government is encouraging British medical professionals to leverage AI tools that use speech technologies and generative AI to convert spoken words into structured medical notes and letters. It […]
The UK government has set out plans to tackle NHS wait times by providing doctors with AI assistants to write up clinical notes and medical letters.
The government is encouraging British medical professionals to leverage AI tools that use speech technologies and generative AI to convert spoken words into structured medical notes and letters.
It hopes to implement the technology in a range of settings such as hospitals and GP surgeries.
Guidance issued this week will also stress data compliance and security, risk identification, and assessment, according to the announcement, while ensuring that staff are properly trained before using the technology.
“AI is the catalyst that will revolutionise healthcare and drive efficiencies across the NHS,” said Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting.
“I am determined we embrace this kind of technology, so clinicians don’t have to spend so much time pushing pens and can focus on their patients.”
One of its tools, ambient voice technologies (AVTs), has been evaluated at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH) across clinical settings such as adult outpatients, primary care, mental health, A&E, and more.
The evaluation included over 7,000 patients and, according to the data, has shown an increase in direct care as clinicians spent more time talking with patients rather than typing on a computer, and increased productivity in A&E.
The technology listened to consultations and drafted clinic notes and letters, which were then edited and authorised by the clinician.
“The patients I see in my clinics have very complex medical conditions and it’s so important to make sure I capture what we discuss in our appointments accurately, but often this means I am typing rather than looking directly at my patient and their family,” said Maaike Kusters, paediatric immunology consultant at GOSH.
“Using the AI tool during the trial meant I could sit closer to them face-to-face and really focus on what they were sharing with me, without compromising on the quality of documentation.”
