The NHS is promoting new AI notetaking tools that could give clinicians up to a quarter more time with patients. A national registry listing 19 suppliers of ambient voice technologies has been published to help organisations adopt systems that capture clinician–patient conversations and use AI to produce real‑time transcriptions and clinical summaries while maintaining data protections.
NHS England published the self‑certified registry on 16 January 2026. Suppliers on the list must meet standards for clinical safety, technical performance and data protection. The registry follows guidance issued last year urging NHS bodies to choose AI notetaking tools that are safe, evidence‑based and demonstrably beneficial for patients and staff.
Estimates suggest the tools could save around 2–3 minutes per consultation by reducing typing and screen time, freeing clinicians to focus more on direct patient interaction. NHS leaders say that freeing clinicians from administrative burden can improve consultation quality and patient experience while boosting efficiency across services.
Dr Alec Price‑Forbes, NHS England National Chief Clinical Information Officer, has set out the vision that AI can transform quality, safety and experience as services move from analogue to digital. NHS England says it will support safe, effective implementation so the health service becomes highly AI‑enabled while protecting patients and clinical standards.
Minister for Digital Government Ian Murray said AI has the potential to cut administration and paperwork, returning time to frontline staff, and that the UK aims to lead in applying technology to improve public services. Ensuring safe and effective NHS adoption is central to that ambition.
Evidence from an NHS England‑sponsored study led by Great Ormond Street Hospital’s Innovation Unit (GOSH DRIVE) supports the benefits. The trial ran across nine London NHS sites and evaluated automatic transcription and AI‑drafted clinical notes in more than 17,000 patient encounters spanning hospitals, GP practices, mental health services and ambulance teams. The study reported a 23.5% increase in direct patient interaction time and an 8.2% reduction in overall appointment length when AI scribing was used. Emergency departments involved in the trial saw a 13.4% rise in patients seen per shift. Investigators concluded that AI scribing can meaningfully reduce clinician workload, improve care delivery and, if scaled nationally, could unlock millions of pounds of additional activity.
A final practical note: the registry is not a commercial procurement framework. Individual NHS organisations will carry out any purchases through their own procurement and governance processes.
