General Practitioners: Artificial Intelligence
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use of artificial intelligence chatbots in place of receptionists for GP surgeries.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock
General practice (GP) receptionists are a valued part of GP teams. Any artificial intelligence (AI) tools utilised, including AI-assisted triage and chatbots, are designed to support, not replace, the professional oversight and signposting provided by practice staff.
AI-assisted triage tools have been deployed in National Health Service GPs across England. Early pilots indicate that they have the potential to reduce the administrative burden and support more timely and appropriate care, and NHS England is working to build a more robust evidence base on their effectiveness.
Current guidance does not mandate exclusive reliance on AI triage. Any wider rollout would need to be evidence-led and subject to robust clinical safety, value-for-money, and data protection considerations.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →