A trial of ambient voice technology (AVT) is currently underway at CHFT, giving clinicians the opportunity to use secure voice-enabled software to support clinical note‑taking during consultations.

The trial has been commissioned by NHS England in partnership with KPMG. CHFT was selected alongside Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust to pilot the technology in a two-month trial, which uses Microsoft Dragon Copilot.

The technology works by capturing and transcribing the conversation between clinician and patient, before generating draft clinical notes for the clinician to review, edit and approve. The aim is to reduce the administrative burden on colleagues, improve workflow, and crucially, allow clinicians to focus more fully on the patient in front of them.

The trial is taking place within HRI A&E and Cardiology Outpatients at CRH, with participating clinicians using AVT alongside existing systems. The 60-day trial will finish at the end of June and will help the Trust understand whether this type of technology could deliver real benefits for colleagues and patients in the future.

Early feedback from clinicians involved has been positive. A&E Doctor at HRI, Dr Emren Potinci, says the impact on his day‑to‑day work has been significant.

“Patient notes used to take me around ten minutes to complete, but with ambient voice technology they now take around three or four minutes. That time saving really adds up over a shift.

“What I like most is the reduction in mental burden. I’m not trying to listen, think, type and structure notes all at the same time. I can properly listen to the patient, which is how it should be. I’m really excited about where AI technology could go in the future and how it could continue to support clinicians and improve patient care.”

Throughout the trial, patients are asked for their consent before the technology is used. Participation is optional and if a patient prefers not to take part, clinicians revert to their usual note‑taking methods.

The AVT trial forms part of the Trust’s wider digital transformation ambitions, exploring how carefully implemented technology can support colleagues, free up time, and enhance the quality of care.

Once the trial finishes we will be looking at the lessons learned to help inform next steps.