A new framework agreement for AI transcription tools has been launched for GP practices and the NHS – giving them access to ‘market ready’ suppliers.
NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) released the framework agreement yesterday, which covers digital dictation, speech recognition and transcription services also known as ambient voice technology (AVT).
It has been designed to directly address the problems of health service organisations facing increased administrative workloads and high volumes of clinical documentation, it said.
The arrangement, expected to generate £150m worth of business, provides ‘a clear and quick means’ to procure technologies from pre-vetted suppliers that are compliant with NHS standards, ‘helping organisations to meet immediate operational needs while preparing for the next wave of innovation’, according to the NHS SBS.
Currently, there are 13 suppliers on the agreement however more will be added once they complete the compliance and validation process. Vendors will be able to expand their offerings as innovative technologies continue to develop, further supporting organisations’ ‘long-term digital transformation’.
Under the framework agreement, practices and organisations have the flexibility of investing in a capital purchase of hardware and software solutions or being able to purchase services on a subscription model (i.e. software as a service, SaaS). Solutions offered include software, hardware, integration, training, consultancy, and support. Products in the agreement also have the added benefit of being able to integrate with IT systems such as electronic patient records systems.
The framework agreement runs from October 2025 until 30 September 2027 with the option of it being extended for another two years.
NHS England guidance, issued earlier this year, set out the benefits of AVTs as reducing workload, improving patient-clinician face-to-face time, standardising documentation and improving data quality.
Phillip Wood, principal category manager – digital workforce and IT transformation at NHS SBS said the framework agreement is ‘a strategic enabler for the NHS and wider public sector, offering digital dictation, speech recognition and outsourced transcription solutions that directly support operational efficiency’.
He added: ‘Current tools remain essential components of clinical documentation workflows, delivering proven, scalable solutions that support day-to-day service delivery. As AVT and AI-enabled scribing tools continue to evolve, they are set to complement established systems.
‘Together, these technologies form a layered approach to digital transformation, enabling healthcare providers and organisations to match the right tool to the right task whilst maintaining flexibility, accuracy and efficiency across clinical and wider administrative settings.’
