Survey: 9 in 10 NHS Staff Use AI Amid Rising Admin Burden

A survey of 1,000 NHS healthcare professionals commissioned by Heidi has found that AI is a central part of their day-to-day work as clinicians seek relief from rising administrative burden.

Heidi is an AI-powered ambient voice technology (AVT) developer that agreed a deal to roll out transcription technology across NHS Midlands in July 2026 – the first region to procure an AI-powered AVT provider at scale. 

The results show widespread AI adoption by healthcare professionals working in the NHS, with 90% of respondents using AI in their clinical work and 65% largely navigating the technology ahead of formal workplace guidance. 

AI demonstrably already exists within clinician workflows, offering a clear pathway to build on the progress healthcare professionals have made by expanding access to, and use of, clinician-led AI tools with robust governance, according to Dr Hannah Allen, Chief Medical Officer and GP at Heidi.

"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,” Hannah says.

Rising administrative burden 

The administrative burden on NHS clinicians continues to grow, with paperwork increasingly consuming time that could otherwise be spent with patients.

80% of healthcare professionals surveyed say their administrative workload has increased in recent years, with clinicians spending an average of 1.3 hours daily on administrative tasks in addition to a full schedule of patient care.

Clinical documentation remains the most significant challenge, identified by 56% of respondents overall. GPs are more likely to cite referrals and correspondence as their biggest administrative pressure (52%), while surgeons are most affected by the time spent chasing test results (67%).

Clinicians see the greatest value in using AI to reduce routine administrative work, with 75% highlighting general admin tasks as the technology's most beneficial application.

Clinicians taking the AI initiative

AI adoption among NHS clinicians continues to gather pace, with almost all (94%) healthcare professionals surveyed saying they have either increased or maintained their use of the technology over the past year.

Adoption is even more widespread among hospital doctors, pharmacists and mental health professionals, where at least 96% report stable or growing AI use. As AI tools become increasingly embedded across healthcare, that momentum is expected to continue.

The perceived benefits also extend well beyond reducing administrative workloads. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of respondents say AI is helping them build a longer, more sustainable career by easing day-to-day pressures.

That finding is particularly significant given the World Health Organisation projects a shortfall of 11 million health workers by 2030.

Hannah believes that the widespread use of AI tools, despite the lack of NHS-wide AI policy, indicates its value to the workforce.

She says, “We’re already seeing high adoption rates across the clinical workforce. This presents a real opportunity for trusts, ICBs [integrated care boards], and regulators to continue the momentum they have already generated, in partnership with healthcare professionals, by expanding routes to procurement that focus on the value that AI can add to patient care, and with clear guidance and good practice. 

“Matching that responsibility with the right support is how we offer healthcare professionals a sense of relief and keep them in the profession for longer.”

NHS AI rollout accelerating

The survey results come amid a period of accelerating AI implementation across the NHS.

Aligned with the NHS 10 Year Health Plan – the government's strategy for building a health service fit for the future – NHS England plans to embed AVT directly into electronic patient record (EPR) systems.

The rollout will sit alongside a wider suite of AI-enabled initiatives, including AI-powered triage through the NHS App, Microsoft Copilot for NHS staff, the future Single Patient Record and NHS Online virtual services. 

In July 2026, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) published guidance clarifying how existing medical device law applies to ambient voice technology (AVT), laying the ground for its rollout.

Commenting on the published guidance, Rob Thompson, Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer, NHS England, says, “We’ve worked closely with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to develop this new guidance, which provides clarity for NHS organisations on how these tools should be assessed, introduced and managed.  

“We’ll now begin rolling out the technology across the NHS safely, consistently and at scale so staff can spend more of their time where it matters most – with patients.”