Half a million NHS staff to be given new AI tools to free up time for patients

More than half a million NHS staff are to be given access to new artificial intelligence (AI) tools designed to cut time spent on admin and free up more hours for patient care.

AI adoption is to be significantly accelerated across NHS healthcare services, as 505,000 clinicians and support staff will be provided with access to Microsoft 365 Copilot, NHS England announced on Monday (8 June).

This AI personal assistant helps clinicians to draft documents and analyse data more efficiently, and it’s hoped that its use will free up an average of two days a month currently spent on admin duties – allowing clinicians to spend more time with patients.

Health innovation and safety minister Preet Kaur Gill said: ‘Every day, doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals spend valuable time on administrative tasks that take them away from patients.

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‘By rolling out Microsoft Copilot across the NHS, we can reduce that burden, free up clinicians’ time and help staff focus on what they do best – caring for patients.’

The agreement to provide NHS staff with this AI tool follows a large trial from 2025, which provided more than 30,000 NHS workers across 90 NHS organisations with access to Microsoft 365 Copilot.

The trial found that AI-powered administrative support saved an average of 43 minutes per staff member per day or more, which equates to 5 weeks of time per person annually.

Results from the trial suggested that a full roll-out of Microsoft 365 Copilot could save up to 400,000 hours of staff time per month, equating to millions of hours every year.

Rob Thompson, chief digital, data and technology officer at NHS England said: ‘The NHS wants to embrace cutting-edge technology and this Microsoft partnership will mean staff can be freed from admin so they can focus more of their time on what matters most – improving care for patients.

‘Innovations like this will help drive NHS productivity so patients can get the treatment they need sooner and there is better value for taxpayers.’

This announcement comes as new research by Teneo shows support for increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) among the UK population rises when the technology is framed around improving NHS services and reducing bureaucracy.

The advisory firm used polling of 2,004 UK adults, 102 MPs and 502 technology professionals, alongside interviews with AI communications specialists, to compile its report, titled Persuasion with Precision: Winning the AI Argument in the UK.

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Researchers found respondents were divided on AI overall, with 33% opposed to increasing its use and 21% undecided.

However, support for greater AI use increased from 45% to 56% when those polled were presented with arguments focused on public service benefits – particularly practical examples of how AI could improve healthcare delivery and reduce administrative pressures.

Participants presented with the public services argument most frequently identified NHS improvements – including faster diagnosis, reduced waiting times and less bureaucracy – as the most persuasive case for expanding AI adoption.

The report also found that broader economic arguments about AI making people wealthier or helping Britain compete globally had little measurable effect on public opinion.

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Andrew Feldman, chief executive of UK strategy and communications at Teneo, said: 'Our research shows that what resonates most is not abstract claims about Britain winning the "AI race" or broad promises of prosperity, but a more practical argument centred on the NHS and public service delivery.'

Among MPs surveyed, 64% said they were persuaded by arguments that AI could improve NHS diagnosis and triage and support the development of new treatments for conditions including cancer and dementia.

The report also identified a gap between confidence levels in the technology sector and wider public sentiment, with tech professionals substantially more positive about the expansion of AI use than the general public.