Meaningful Use of Ambient Voice Technology (AVT) in the NHS

The meaningful use of ambient voice technology (AVT) in the NHS programme supports the implementation, adoption, meaningful use and evaluation of AI enabled ambient scribing technologies across the NHS.

Challenge

Ambient voice technology (sometimes known as ambient scribing) uses artificial intelligence to turn conversations with patients into draft clinical notes and patient letters.

AVT has the potential to reduce administrative burden, release clinician time, and improve patient and staff experience. However, its impact on cost and safety and insight into how to use it to best effect are still not well understood.

About the programme

The Network AVT programme provides practical support for understanding the supplier market, as well as procuring, implementing and adopting AVT in the NHS.

The programme offers:

• Detailed resources to procure, implement and evaluate AVT.
• Peer-to-peer learning and problem-solving through communities of practice and action learning sets.
• Insight into what works – so that AVT can deliver real benefits for patients and staff.

A large-scale evaluation of uptake, use, impact and economic implications of AVT will be undertaken as part of programme delivery.

By 2028, the programme will leave the NHS with a clearer understanding of the real-world value of AVT in the NHS and a blueprint for meaningful adoption and use.

The programme is being delivered by the Health Innovation Network, led by Health Innovation East, and delivered in partnership with UCL Partners and THIS Institute. It also benefits from the expertise of the NIHR Rapid Service Evaluation Team (led by University College London, Nuffield Trust and University of Cambridge), who are assessing the uptake and use of AVT nationally across the course of the programme. They will deliver robust insights, including assessment of use, uptake, impact and economic implications.

Our work in KSS

Health Innovation KSS is delivering the programme across Kent, Surrey and Sussex. The programme will run for two years until March 2028.

Working closely with NHS South East to ensure strategic alignment, we will work with providers at different stages of their AVT journey.

The programme is structured around three pillars:

• Navigating the supplier landscape and procurement: supporting NHS organisations to navigate the evolving AVT supplier landscape, aligned to the NHS England supplier registry and known electronic patient record (EPR) AVT modules.
• Implementation and adoption: providing practical tools, guidance and hands-on support to enable the safe implementation and sustained adoption of AVT.
• Evaluation and benefits realisation: delivering a consistent approach to measurement through a common outcomes framework and core dataset. The programme aims to generate robust evidence to develop our understanding of value and appropriate AVT use.

Alignment with NHS England

Our approach is simple: one national initiative, working as one system.

NHS England is providing national funding, guidance, standards and implementation support.

The Health Innovation Network is supporting implementation, navigating the supplier landscape, supplier engagement, learning and evidence generation alongside the Frontline Productivity programme.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) helps to provide regulatory clarity, and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and research partners strengthen the independent evidence base.

AVT Support available to providers

There are three ways in which providers can access AVT support:

• Through participating in the Network AVT programme
• Through NHS Frontline Productivity Programme funding and associated change management support
• Through both Frontline Productivity Programme funding and associated support and participating in the Network AVT programme

Providers may also choose to implement AVT without accessing any of these support offers. Providers should speak to the Health Innovation KSS team to explore opportunities via the Network AVT programme and their regional NHS England team regarding Frontline Productivity Programme funding.