Ambient Voice Technology

We are introducing Ambient Voice Technology (AVT) to support clinicians with clinical documentation and help reduce administrative workload.

The technology, provided by Lyrebird, will begin rolling out in the Emergency Department, Gastroenterology and Gynaecology Outpatients from July 2026, before expanding to other clinical areas across the Trust.

AVT converts conversations into text and uses advanced language processing to create draft clinic notes and letters using clinician-approved templates. Similar technology is already widely used in everyday life through voice assistants on smartphones, in vehicles and through smart home devices.

Importantly, any documentation generated by the technology remains in draft form until it has been reviewed, checked and approved by the clinician. Clinicians retain full responsibility for ensuring records are accurate before they are added to a patient's medical record.

The introduction of AVT follows a period of evaluation across a range of specialties within the Trust, where the technology has been explored as a way to support clinical practice and improve efficiency.

By reducing the time clinicians spend on manual note-taking and letter generation, AVT has the potential to:

  • Reduce administrative burden for clinical staff.
  • Allow clinicians to focus more on their conversations with patients.
  • Improve communication between patients and healthcare professionals.
  • Support more efficient clinical workflows.

As the technology develops, additional features may become available, including support for booking investigations and scheduling follow-up appointments.

Patient privacy, confidentiality and data security remain a priority. Robust safeguards are in place, and all information is handled in accordance with NHS information governance and data protection requirements.

The introduction of Ambient Voice Technology forms part of the Trust's wider commitment to using digital innovation to enhance patient care and improve the experience of both patients and staff.