Ambient voice technology (AVT), also known as a digital notetaker, helps turn conversations between a clinician and a patient into clear, structured notes and clinical summaries. It is part of Future Christie, our 10-year plan to improve cancer care.
You may already have seen similar tools in use at other hospitals across Greater Manchester, particularly at Manchester Foundation Trust. Experience from other hospitals has shown how digital notetakers can save time, improve accuracy, and allow clinicians to focus entirely on the person in front of them.
At its heart, this innovation is about freeing up time to care. By reducing the need for typing or dictation after a consultation, a digital notetaker allows clinicians to spend more time with patients and less time on paperwork.
It means patients can benefit from a same-day or soon after written summary of what was discussed and agreed at their appointment, supporting clearer communication between patients, clinicians and GPs.
The digital notetaker will be introduced gradually, starting in surgical services before being rolled out more widely across the organisation. This staged approach allows us to learn as we go, gather feedback from early users, and make adjustments to ensure the system works for all clinical areas.
AVT frequently asked questions
You may already use this technology in things like voice commands on Alexa and your mobile phone.
Ambient voice technology is a digital notetaker that listens during your appointment.
It turns what you and your clinician say into clear written notes about your appointment.
This means you don’t have to remember everything said at your appointment.
It’s classed as a medical device, so it must meet NHS safety and quality standards for healthcare tools.
Ambient voice technology helps by:
- letting staff focus on you, not typing
- giving you a letter about the appointment more quickly
- helping you and your GP understand your care
This is part of The Christie’s plan to improve communication and introduce modern ways of working.
No. Your clinician is always in charge.
They check everything the computer writes before it is saved or shared.
Yes, if you agree to this when your clinician asks for your permission.
It stops when the appointment ends, or sooner if you ask to stop.
Saying yes or no will not change the care you receive.
Your clinician checks and approves all information before it becomes part of your health record.
Yes. Patients should be given information about the digital notetaker in the waiting room before their appointment if it is to be used.
This helps you make a clear and informed choice.
You can ask questions at any time to help you decide.
Yes. It’s your choice. You can ask questions before you decide.
Saying no will not affect your care in any way. You will still get the same support.
Yes. You are in control. You can ask us to stop the digital notetaker at any time.
Just tell your clinical team. They will stop and only take notes the usual way.
Yes. The system is designed to follow NHS privacy and data protection rules. It turns speech into text safely and securely.
A formal check called a Data Protection Impact Assessment helps us handle your data properly.
Future Christie is our plan to modernise care and improve communication.
The digital notetaker helps by giving patients clear written notes soon after appointments.
You get a written summary of your appointment in a letter.
It helps you remember what to do next.
You can share it with your family or carer.
Your clinical team can fix it. The digital notetaker helps them but does not replace them.
If something looks wrong, they can change or delete it before saving.
They check and edit the letter before saving it. They are in charge of your final record.
Yes. You can ask for it in various formats.
Not yet. But it is being rolled out to other departments during 2026.
No. Appointments will be the same or shorter. Staff don’t need to type, so they can focus on you.
Yes. Having clear written notes more quickly supports better communication with GPs and patients.
Yes. This is in use in hospitals across the country.
You can speak to your clinical team if you have any concerns.
No. It only helps with note-taking.
Your clinician and our expert teams always lead your care.
You will get the same care whether we use a digital notetaker or not.
The system has passed NHS safety checks.
Because ambient voice technology is a regulated medical device, it must meet strict rules before it is used with patients.
These are national standards that make sure digital tools in healthcare are safe.
That’s fine, you can still get your letters printed and posted. No one will miss out.
Voice recordings are not kept as part of your medical record.
It changes speech into text as you and your clinician talk.
Once the written notes are saved, the audio is deleted automatically.
No. The system used at The Christie is designed for clinical use only.
The system is designed to meet NHS and UK data protection requirements.
No. It only helps to make written notes. It does not analyse tone, emotion, or health from speech.
Your clinician stays fully in control at all times.