Reimagining the Consultation: Oracle Health Launches Clinical AI Across the UK
Exciting news for the NHS digital landscape this week: Oracle Health has announced that its clinical AI agent is now available across the UK, following a successful pilot programme.
The pilot involved major institutions including Barts Health, Imperial College Healthcare, and Milton Keynes University Hospital, where the technology has been helping clinicians reimagine how they interact with patients.
Ambient Voice: Empowering Clinicians
The new solution uses ambient voice technology (AVT) to draft patient notes automatically during a consultation. This innovation is designed to run in the background, allowing doctors and nurses to maintain eye contact and focus entirely on the person in front of them, rather than the screen.
The feedback from the pilot sites has been incredibly positive. Robin Kearney, a consultant in acute medicine at Milton Keynes University Hospital, highlighted how the tool enhances the patient experience:
"It’s improved the accuracy of my notes and given me a lot of time back. Now, when I see a patient, I can spend all my time focusing on them."
A Commitment to UK Healthcare
This launch is part of a broader commitment from Oracle to the UK market. With a plan to invest $5bn (£3.7bn) over the next five years, Oracle is positioning itself as a key partner in the NHS's digital transformation.
Given that Oracle Health is currently the market leader for Electronic Patient Records (EPR) in English acute trusts—holding a 25% market share—this rollout has the potential to benefit a significant portion of the NHS workforce.
The NHMS View
At NHMS, we champion innovation that supports the workforce. Alec Price-Forbes, the national chief clinical information officer for England, described this kind of technology as "an enabler for us truly to reimagine healthcare".
We agree. By integrating advanced capabilities directly into clinical workflows, we aren't just improving efficiency; we are empowering doctors to deliver the "exceptional care" they trained to provide. It is a welcome step forward for the NHS infrastructure.