The patient champion called on regulators to establish best practice standards for the use of AI scribes.

Chris McCann, deputy chief executive at Healthwatch England said: ‘AI scribes are becoming part of healthcare and are likely to play an increasingly important role in the NHS. But our research shows that public support for these tools depends on people's understanding when and how they are being used.'

In other findings:

• two-thirds (69%) of people said that to feel comfortable with the new technology they want assurances that human health professionals check the accuracy of AI-generated summaries of their consultations
• under a third were comfortable for the scribe to be used when talking about sexual (29%) or mental (28%) health issues, or domestic abuse (23%)
• nearly half (48%) were okay with its use during routine checks like having their blood pressure taken
• nine in 10 (89%) people weren't aware if had been used in an NHS appointment in the past year.

Current NHS guidance states that because AI scribing tools are used for direct patient care, health professionals don't need to seek an ‘opt in' from patients, but that services should make people aware that AI scribing is being used.

Healthwatch England called on the National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare to ensure strong safeguards are introduced to protect patient safety and build public confidence in AI scribing, when it makes recommendations later this summer.

Dr Sarah Townley, deputy medical director at Medical Protection Society, said: ‘Our advice to doctors is that they are responsible for ensuring medical notes produced by transcription software are clear, legible, accurately reflect the consultation and do not omit potentially relevant information. When using AI scribe tools - particularly those requiring the sharing of personal data with a third party - informed consent should be sought from patients before use and this should be documented.

‘Doctors should also receive appropriate training on AI scribes so they understand their limitations and data protection implications, and can reassure patients about how their personal information is being used and stored.'