The growing demand for general practitioners (GPs) in the UK has made securing appointments increasingly difficult. With rising pressure on doctors, AI is emerging as a potential solution to alleviate administrative burdens, enabling healthcare professionals to focus more on patient care and improve the quality of consultations.
Transforming GP Workflows with AI
Dr. Deepali Misra-Sharp, a GP partner in Birmingham, has adopted AI to tackle administrative tasks. For the past four months, she has been using Heidi Health, an AI-powered medical transcription tool that listens to and transcribes patient consultations.
“Instead of writing during consultations, I can actively listen and make better connections with patients,” she says. This tool not only saves her two to three minutes per consultation but also reduces errors in medical notes and improves overall patient care.
AI’s growing role in healthcare is particularly significant, as many GPs now face overwhelming workloads. According to the British Medical Association (BMA), a full-time GP in the UK cares for an average of 2,273 patients, a 17% increase since 2015.
Easing GP Pressure with AI Tools
AI could significantly reduce this strain. Research indicates that AI tools can save time and streamline operations. A 2019 Health Education England report found that AI could save at least one minute per patient, translating into 5.7 million hours of GP time annually. Similarly, a 2020 study from Oxford University revealed that 44% of administrative tasks in general practice could be automated, freeing GPs to focus on patient consultations.
Innovative solutions like Corti are at the forefront of AI healthcare applications. Corti’s system processes 150,000 patient interactions daily across Europe and the U.S., assisting GPs by suggesting follow-up questions, treatment options, and automating notes. Its ability to analyze patient history and patterns from similar cases allows for more precise support during consultations.
Concerns about patient privacy persist, but developers are taking steps to address them. Lars Maaløe, co-founder of Corti, highlights that patient data remains secure within the system, and informing patients about AI usage has been met with minimal resistance. Similarly, Dr. Misra-Sharp reports no objections from her patients when explaining how AI supports their care.
Another impactful tool, C the Signs, assesses cancer risks by analyzing symptoms, medical history, and research data. This AI platform has already conducted 400,000 cancer risk assessments, identifying over 30,000 cases across 50 types of cancer. By offering recommendations and identifying risks, it equips GPs with actionable insights, complementing their expertise without making diagnoses.
For more insights on how AI is transforming GP workflows and improving patient care, explore this article on AI's role in easing GP workloads.
Balancing AI’s Potential with Safety
While AI’s benefits are evident, its adoption must be carefully managed. A BMA report emphasizes that AI will enhance healthcare jobs by automating repetitive tasks rather than replacing human expertise. However, regulatory compliance and data accuracy are crucial to ensure safety and effectiveness.
“AI is promising but not a silver bullet. It must be implemented safely to avoid harm,” warns Dr. Katie Bramall-Stainer, Chair of the BMA’s General Practice Committee UK. Legal experts, like Alison Dennis from Taylor Wessing, stress the importance of validated clinical data and regulatory standards to safeguard privacy and maintain accuracy.
For Dr. Misra-Sharp, the integration of AI has brought a new sense of balance to her professional life. “It’s made consultations enjoyable again, freeing me from time pressure,” she shares. As AI continues to evolve, its potential to ease workloads and enhance patient care grows increasingly evident. For further reading on this topic, visit Euro News.
