How an NHS AI tool is strengthening patient relationships and shortening waiting lists

12 Mar 2026

Screen-free appointments made possible by an AI voice assistant

Healthcare professionals looking and pointing at a screen

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, a new AI tool is enabling doctors to connect more deeply with patients, reducing the use of screens during appointments to allow true face to face interaction. Microsoft Dragon Copilot is a system that uses a voice-activated assistant which, with patient approval, listens to conversations and works hard to transcribe, organise resources and directly update a patient’s medical record, there and then.

Doctors have highlighted that this not only helps strengthen their patient relationships but also reduces appointment times due to the effectiveness of both the appointments themselves and the administrative burden after an appointment, helping to shorten waiting lists. Early results indicate the Trust could see up to 250,000 new patients annually as a result, without sacrificing any of the important human interaction that is at the heart of healthcare.

To learn more about this pilot programme, watch this overview video or read Microsoft’s news article.