Doctors in GP surgeries, hospital outpatient clinics, and A&E departments are testing whether an AI system that listens to their consultations can write up the medical notes for them. This matters because the technology, called ambient voice technology (AVT), is already spreading through the NHS without independent evidence that it works. Most existing studies are small and funded by the companies selling the devices. The NHS needs to know whether AVT actually saves clinicians time, improves the quality of records, and is worth the money. The project will first review existing evidence and map where AVT is currently used. Then, in a second phase, researchers will collect data on efficiency and patient outcomes, interview staff and patients about their experiences, and analyse costs and benefits across three settings: GP surgeries, hospital outpatient clinics, and A&E. If AVT proves effective, it could free up doctors’ time for direct patient care and reduce the administrative burden that contributes to burnout. If it does not, the NHS will avoid investing in a costly technology that offers little benefit.
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What is AVT? Ambient voice technology (AVT) uses artificial intelligence (AI) to confidentially listen to and document conversations between healthcare professionals and patients as they happen. This helps create accurate medical records, without the doctor having to write everything down manually. Why are we evaluating AVT? AVT is becoming more widely used across the NHS, but most existing studies have been small and often run by the companies that make the technology. An independent, robust evaluation is needed to help the NHS make informed decisions about the future use of AVT. What will the evaluation look at? The project will look at how AVT is used in three NHS settings: - GP surgeries (primary care) - Hospital outpatient clinics - Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments. We want to find out: - Productivity: Does AVT reduce time spent on paperwork, allowing more time for patient care? - Quality of care: Does AVT help doctors and patients communicate better? - Value for money: Do the benefits of AVT outweigh the costs, and how should it be paid for? How will we do the evaluation? The project has two phases: Phase 1 (September 2025 to January 2026): - Review what is already known about AVT in healthcare - Create a list (taxonomy) to compare different AVT products - Map out where AVT is currently being used - Build models to show how AVT works and what it could achieve. Phase 2 (January – December 2026): - Collect and analyse data to see how AVT affects efficiency, record quality, and patient outcomes - Interview staff and patients to understand their experiences and any issues around fairness - Study the costs and benefits of using AVT.
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