Nurses set to gain more hands-on time as NHS backs AI note-taking tools
NHS England has launched a national self-certified registry of 19 approved suppliers for ambient voice technology (AVT) — commonly known as AI note-taking or AI scribing tools — to help nurses and other clinicians reduce administrative burdens and dedicate more time to direct, hands-on patient care.
Announced on 16 January 2026, the registry requires suppliers to demonstrate compliance with rigorous standards on clinical safety, data protection, technology reliability, and AI-specific governance. This provides NHS organisations with assured, vetted options for adopting tools that passively listen to consultations (with explicit patient consent), generate real-time transcriptions, and draft summarised clinical notes for professional review and approval.
The move builds on NHS guidance issued in 2025, which encouraged the safe, evidence-based deployment of AI notetaking solutions to enhance patient experience and clinician efficiency. It aligns with the government’s NHS 10 Year Health Plan ambition to make the NHS the world’s most AI-enabled healthcare system, shifting from analogue processes to digital augmentation while prioritising safety and ethical use.
Proven Benefits from Large-Scale Evidence
A landmark NHS England-sponsored study, led by Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust’s Innovation Unit (GOSH DRIVE) and published in September 2025, evaluated AI scribing across nine diverse London sites — including hospitals, GP practices, mental health services, and ambulance teams — over more than 17,000 patient encounters.
Key findings included:
- 23.5% increase in direct patient interaction time during appointments.
- 8.2% reduction in overall appointment length.
- 13.4% rise in patients seen per shift in emergency departments.
- Average time savings of 2–3 minutes per consultation.
These results translate to nurses and clinicians spending significantly more time on core activities — such as physical assessments, patient education, emotional support, medication administration, and wound care — rather than documentation. In high-pressure settings, the productivity gains were particularly pronounced, demonstrating potential to ease workload pressures and reduce burnout among nursing teams.
Patient feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with 92% consenting to the technology’s use and many reporting improved engagement during consultations.
Expert Insights and Implications for Nursing Practice
Dr Alec Price-Forbes, NHS England’s National Chief Clinical Information Officer, highlighted the human-centred impact:
“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.”
For nurses, who frequently manage extensive charting alongside clinical responsibilities, ambient AI offers a practical, low-disruption solution to reclaim time for compassionate, person-centred care. The registry addresses earlier concerns about the “wild west” of unregulated suppliers by providing a trusted framework, though successful implementation will depend on local factors: robust infrastructure (e.g., reliable Wi-Fi and electronic patient record integration), comprehensive staff training, and continuous monitoring for accuracy, bias, and privacy.
The NHS Confederation has welcomed the registry, noting it will accelerate responsible adoption while calling for sustained investment in digital foundations to overcome barriers in legacy systems.
As individual NHS trusts and integrated care boards procure tools through their governance processes, this development signals strong institutional support for technologies that empower frontline nurses. By prioritising evidence-based innovation, the NHS is taking a measured step toward alleviating administrative overload, improving staff wellbeing, and ultimately delivering higher-quality, more relational care in an overstretched health service.
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