Patients Raise Alarm Over AI GP Recordings

Healthwatch West Berkshire says patients have serious concerns about AI recording GP appointments.

In its annual report it warns AI is starting to play a bigger role in NHS and social care and is working with local providers to make sure people have a say in how it's used.

"We asked residents how they would feel about AI recording GP appointments," it said.

"The response was clear, strong opinions, serious concerns, and big questions about trust."

They note one upside: an AI scribe could mean doctors spend less time typing or staring at screens during consultations.

The watchdog also focussed on the racing community in Lambourn, bringing healthcare providers and support groups together to tackle barriers racing staff face when accessing care.

Fiona Worby, from West Berkshire Healthwatch, said she had seen how powerful it is when people speak up. Over the year they supported more than 718 people to have their say and helped map feedback routes across the area.

The review with Newbury MP Lee Dillon found more than 150 feedback pathways, highlighting that the problem is an overwhelming surplus of routes rather than a lack of them, and work with the Berkshire Digital Infrastructure Group flagged gaps in digital access and skills.

Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter