Dr Tom Ratcliffe, Digital Transformation Lead for the national Modality GP Partnership and a practicing GP partner in Keighley, West Yorkshire, explains how new ambient scribing technology helps clinicians focus on their interactions with patients – but like any digital tool, governance is of the utmost importance.

General practice is under increasing pressure. Demand continues to rise, consultations are more complex, and clinicians like myself spend significant time documenting our interactions with patients. Against this backdrop, ambient voice technology (AVT), or ‘ambient scribing’, is emerging as a valuable tool for modern primary care.

At Modality Partnership, we have been using an ambient scribing platform for around 18 months, and our experience shows that, when implemented safely and thoughtfully, it can significantly improve both clinician experience and patient care.

The work has been recognised with several award wins for the partnership, including a 2026 HSJ digital award for ‘Improving primary care through Digital and a 2026 HTN Award win for ‘Best use of AI in Primary care.’

What is ambient scribing?

Ambient scribing technology listens to consultations, transcribes them in real time and generates structured medical notes. It can also support referral letters, patient summaries and access to clinical guidance.

It acts as a digital or AI assistant for our clinicians – reducing administrative burden and allowing them to focus more fully on our patients.

The difference ambient scribing is making 

The most noticeable impact has been on the quality of consultations. Our evaluation found that 78% of clinicians reported an improved rapport with patients when using the tool. This is not that surprising as when clinicians are not distracted by the need to type notes, they can maintain eye contact, listen more carefully and pick up on subtle, non-verbal cues.

We also observed a 51% reduction in time spent on documentation and correspondence, alongside improved clinician wellbeing, with 45% reporting a better work-life balance.

Patient response has been overwhelmingly positive. Across more than 2 million minutes of consultations, we have had virtually no objections to the use of ambient scribing.

Scaling safely across general practice

We have now rolled out ambient scribing to around 320 clinicians across the national Modality Partnership, with over 90% of eligible users actively using the platform. This scale has allowed us to test not just the technology, but the operational and governance frameworks needed to support it.

The safe and effective use of this kind of technology depends entirely on how it is implemented.

Getting governance right

AI tools in healthcare require rigorous oversight. They handle large volumes of sensitive patient data, and errors, if they occur, can scale very quickly.

There are lots of checks and due diligence activities that need to be done. It’s also important to train staff on the safe use of AI, and to look at what added value the different products available are going to be able to add as they develop. Over the next 18 months we’re going to see AVT platforms becoming much more useful in many different ways.

National guidance from NHS England is also helping to support this work, bringing together existing requirements into a clearer framework for practices. For many organisations, particularly those without dedicated digital or governance expertise, this provides a useful starting point to understand what “good” looks like and how to implement AI safely.

Governance must include strong information governance, clinical safety processes, data protection measures and compliance with medical device regulations. It is important to realise, this is not a one-off exercise – it requires continuous review, monitoring and improvement.

Supporting clinicians to use AI effectively

Training is another critical factor in successful adoption. While these tools are relatively intuitive, clinicians and practice teams need to understand both their strengths and their limitations.

For example, generative AI systems are highly capable but not infallible. Content must always be carefully checked, and clinicians need to be aware of situations where performance may be less reliable – such as consultations involving communication barriers or complex interactions.

Patient consent and transparency are also essential. Patients should always be informed when AI tools are being used in their consultation, helping to build trust and maintain confidence in their care.

Ambient scribing is only the starting point. At Modality Partnership we are already exploring additional functionality, including tools that provide real-time access to clinical guidance and AI-supported follow-up for patients.

These developments have the potential to further enhance clinical decision-making and streamline workflows, but they will need to be implemented with the same laser focus on safety and governance.

A valuable tool for the future of general practice

There is no single solution to the pressures facing general practice. However ambient scribing is making a meaningful difference – improving efficiency, enhancing patient-clinician interaction and supporting clinician wellbeing. It also releases valuable clinical time that can be reinvested into patient care or reducing workload pressures.

When used responsibly, with appropriate governance and training, this technological innovation is a practical tool that is helping restore the focus of general practice back to patient care. This is where I feel the real value lies.

Dr Tom Ratcliffe