Adopting ambient scribing products in health and care settings

Ambient scribing products, when combined with generative AI, can convert speech directly into structured medical documentation, such as notes and letters.

The products are sometimes referred to as ambient scribes or AI scribes and include ambient voice technologies (AVTs) used for clinical or patient documentation and workflow support.

This means that the caregiver can focus on the patient in front of them – rather than focusing on a computer screen – with confidence that their conversation will be captured into an accurate draft summarisation for review and validation.

A major NHS England sponsored study showed a 23.5% increase in direct patient interaction time during appointments, alongside an 8.2% reduction in overall appointment length when AI-scribes were used. A&E saw particularly strong results, with a 13.4% increase in patients seen per shift.

Supporting NHS transformation

The Medium-Term Planning Framework sets out how, over the next 3 years, we will return the NHS to much better health and lay the foundations for the future by reigniting local ambition to reimagine services, unlock productivity, and achieve the strategic shifts set out in the 10 Year Health Plan. It embeds the principle that services will be digital by default – meaning better care, better health outcomes, better patient experience and lower cost.

In the framework, NHS organisations are directed to deploy AVT at pace to support this ambition.

The resources below have been developed to support organisations to adopt ambient scribing products safety, securely and in ways that support both staff and patients.

A national self-certified registry of AVT suppliers is available to support and accelerate local procurement and assurance activities.

The registry marks the first phase of national support for NHS organisations in adopting and scaling the transformative potential of AVT capabilities. It includes a list of self-certified suppliers, which is accompanied by a resource library to help inform strategy and ensure alignment with NHS England guidance.

The registry is designed to support NHS organisations to better understand the readiness, capabilities, features and functionality of AVT solutions, and in turn, accelerate the adoption of AVTs across the NHS.

Applications for suppliers reopened on 3 February 2026 and will remain open. Read more about the process on the Find a Tender website. The list of suppliers on our website will be updated when new suppliers are added to the registry.

View the list of self-certified AVT suppliers

1. An overview for NHS executives and boards

Information for NHS senior executives and board members on ambient scribing products that feature generative AI, for use across health and care settings in England.

Read AI-enabled ambient scribing products in health and care settings – an overview for NHS executives and boards

2. Leading AI adoption in health settings for CIOs and CCIOs

The guidance provides an overview of ambient scribing products and key considerations for chief information officers (CIOs) and chief clinical information officers (CCIOs) leading AI adoption in health settings.

It was updated in January 2026 to provide information on the AVT Supplier Registry.

The appendix offers an in-depth exploration of these considerations, providing further steps for technical and product teams leading AI adoption.

Read guidance on ambient scribing products for CIOs and CCIOs

3. Guidance on information governance considerations

This guidance covers detailed information governance (IG) considerations for health and care organisations who are adopting an ambient scribing product.

Read Using AI-enabled ambient scribing products in health and care settings

A template data protection impact assessment (DPIA) is also included for IG professionals to download.

Ambient Voice Technology Innovation and Development (AVID) is an online community created to support those who are shaping the future of AVT in health and care — including those planning or using AVT in their organisations. It is run independently by THIS Institute in partnership with The Health Foundation.

NHS England is committed to listening to feedback and lessons learned from the community to help shape the national approach to the safe and secure adoption of AVT. We will work collaboratively with AVID to share national guidance and plans.

Learn more about AVID

Developing a national proposition

NHS England is developing a national plan to support the widespread adoption of ambient scribing and automation enabled by AI. The proposition will support all care settings to rollout assured, standardised services across England in a safe and compliant way.

Developing additional guidance

Additional guidance will be published throughout 2026 and 2027 to support the adoption of ambient scribing products for use across health and care settings in England. Further support will include:

• support templates and tools such as a business case template, example hazard logs and safety cases for risk assessments
• guidance to support evaluation and monitoring

9 April 2026:

• Content migrated to NHS England (Digital) website

24 March 2026:

• Added link to new IG guidance

3 February 2026:

• Applications for suppliers has reopened.

16 January 2026:

• The NHS England Ambient Voice Technology (AVT) Supplier Registry is available to support NHS providers in adopting and scaling the transformative potential of AVT capabilities.
• Join Ambient Voice Technology Innovation and Development (AVID) – an independent online community created to support those who are shaping the future of AVT in health and care.