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Scaling ambient voice technology (AVT) safely across the NHS

NHS England is providing funding and support to scale AVT, safely and effectively, across the NHS.

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Ambient voice technology (AVT) uses artificial intelligence (AI) to turn conversations between clinicians and patients into clinical notes and other documentation for clinicians to review and approve.

It's sometimes called: 

  • AI scribing
  • AI note taking
  • ambient scribing 

When used as part of redesigned clinical workflows, AVT can: 

  • reduce administrative tasks
  • improve the quality and timeliness of clinical documentation
  • improve staff and patient experience
  • help organisations make better use of clinical time 

Organisations should consider from the start how AVT will work with their existing clinical record systems, including electronic patient record (EPR) systems where these are in use. This helps support safe and efficient clinical workflows. 

Funding and support

Funding is available to support the safe and effective rollout of AVT across the NHS. 

Funding will be provided through NHS England's Frontline Productivity programme, which invests in digital technology through NHS regions for organisations in England. 

NHS England will also provide support including: 

  • implementation guidance
  • commercial guidance
  • change management support
  • benefits measurement
  • continuous improvement support
The programme will:
  • learn from early adoption – by working with organisations that have already trialled or implemented AVT, capturing practical learning and sharing what works across the NHS.
  • deliver phased deployment - by helping organisations begin or expand AVT deployment using learning from earlier implementations
  • scale adoption across the NHS - by applying evidence and learning from each phase to different organisations and care settings
  • share guidance and learning - through a national AVT centre of excellence, bringing together implementation guidance, tools, evidence and practical resources. Existing national guidance covers safety, regulation, information governance and local adoption
  • develop a national benefits framework – to help organisations measure and demonstrate the impact of AVT consistently

Where rollout will start 

The rollout will begin in outpatient settings, where AVT could reduce administrative work and free up clinical time. 

This may help organisations: 

  • increase capacity
  • reduce waiting times
  • reduce pressure on clinical teams 

Support will then expand to other care settings, using evidence and learning from each phase to support safe adoption.

Future uses of AVT

As the technology develops, AVT may help with a wider range of tasks, including: 

  • clinical coding
  • preparing discharge summaries

Any advanced functions will require appropriate clinical review, assurance and controls. 

The national programme will help organisations adopt AVT safely, improve integration with electronic patient records and clinical workflows, and make greater use of AVT as evidence and experience grow.

What happens next

Further information about programme scope, funding and implementation support will be shared with NHS organisations through the NHS England Frontline Productivity programme.

Resources are already available for organisations across all care settings, including: 

For queries, contact your regional digital transformation team.

Last edited: 19 October 2026 9:10 am