Majority of NHS Trusts still rely on paper records – but half are looking to AI, research shows

More than 90% of surveyed trusts say they still rely on hand-written reports - Photo credit: Flickr, ad.mak, CC BY 2.0 According to figures released following a Freedom of Information request by the communications solutions company Nuance, 93% of the 30 trusts that responded said they handwrite reports. The same proportion said they relied on traditional word processing methods to type up electronic patient records. However, the FoI also indicated an increasing interest in AI across the NHS, with 43% of trusts reporting that they were considering how to use AI as a way of allowing patients to "self-help" when accessing health services. In a statement published alongside the FoI responses, Nuance said that such technology included virtual assistants, speech recognition technology and chat-bots. Last year, Enfield Council became one of the first local authorities to use AI assistance, with the introduction of IPSoft's Amelia systems to help residents carry out online tasks.