A Heidi survey of 1,000 NHS healthcare professionals found 90% are using AI in clinical work to manage workflow and administrative tasks.
The survey found 94% of respondents had either increased their AI use at work in the past year or kept it at the same level. Among hospital doctors, pharmacists and mental health professionals, AI use reached 96%, according to the survey.
Heidi said nearly two-thirds of healthcare professionals, 65%, had adopted AI to assist their workflow. The survey linked the uptake to rising administrative burdens, with 80% of respondents reporting an increase in admin tasks.
Documentation demands were cited by 61% of nurses and 63% of pharmacists, while 52% of GPs reported added work tied to referrals and letters. AI is being used to draft referrals and notes, and 66% of respondents said it is also being used to manage patient follow-ups.
The findings also indicated some healthcare professionals believe AI is helping prolong careers by making workloads more manageable.
“These findings reflect what we hear every day from patients and clinicians. Patients are ready for this, and healthcare professionals have already made AI part of how they manage a workload that has grown well beyond what most would call sustainable,” said Dr. Hannah Allen, chief medical officer and GP at Heidi.
The report said use of computers and patient data within the NHS has long been subject to oversight, and trusts have introduced policies for generative AI use. Those policies include the NHS AI Lab Code of Conduct, NHS England’s Blueprint for AI in Health and Social Care, and information governance frameworks covering patient data and other sensitive information.
The survey found 35% of respondents were concerned about patient privacy.
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