Blog | AI in general practice

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept in healthcare — it’s already part of the GP toolkit. A landmark study by the Nuffield Trust and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) shows that nearly one in three GPs are using AI tools in their daily work. The question now is: how do we move from scattered adoption to a safe, consistent, and equitable approach across the NHS?

Where we are today

The report, How are GPs using AI? Insights from the front line, found that 28% of GPs use AI in clinical practice. Adoption varies widely: 31% in England, 28% in Wales, 20% in Scotland, and just 9% in Northern Ireland. Male GPs report higher usage than female GPs, and practices in affluent areas are more likely to provide access than those in deprived communities.

So, what are GPs using AI for? The most common tasks include clinical documentation and note-taking; support for professional development and automation of administrative workflows. Less often, AI is being used in a clinical decision support function. Studies have shown the benefits are time savings and reduced administrative burden which has been linked to less burnout and more time spent engaging with patients, rather than increase appointment volumes per se.

The challenges

Despite the promise, concerns remain. GPs consistently cite professional liability, lack of national oversight, risk of clinical errors and patient privacy as major barriers. Focus groups described the current environment as a “wild west” of unregulated tools, with some integrated care boards banning AI outright while others are actively piloting solutions. This postcode lottery, and geographical inequity, highlights the urgent need for national guidance.

What needs to happen

The report calls for decisive action:

Rapid, evidence-based guidance to eliminate regional disparities
Clear liability frameworks and governance
Structured training programs for clinicians
Equity-focused design to support deprived areas and minority languages
Consideration of AI’s environmental impact in line with NHS net-zero goals

Technology suppliers also have a critical role. They must integrate AI seamlessly into electronic patient records (EPRs), prioritise administrative workflows and co-design tools with diverse GP groups. NHS England has issued initial guidance and launched an AI Commission to review these challenges, but more is needed to build confidence among clinicians.

Global standards, such as those outlined by the World Health Organization in its guidance on ethics and governance of AI for health, provide a strong foundation. At Optum we’re committed to supporting the NHS and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in advancing AI evaluation and regulation to make this vision a reality, activity participating in the AI commission working group as an invited member.

We’ve also approached the development and integration of AI tools into our infrastructure in a systematic and responsible way developing a comprehensive evaluation framework with patient safety at the heart. Due to the very nature of the technology, continuous evaluation and monitoring is an absolute requirement to ensure these tools remain safe and effective. We’re committed not just to embracing these new technologies to improve the working lives of our customers and the patients they care for, but to doing this responsibly and safely so we can continue to be a trusted partner of the NHS and beyond.

The bottom line

AI is already helping GPs reduce administrative workload and reduce burnout. But without structured training, governance and accountability, rigorous evaluation and monitoring, fragmented adoption risks reinforcing inequalities and undermining trust. The time is now for coordinated leadership — across national bodies, developers, practices, and patients — to unlock AI’s full potential for safer, smarter, and more inclusive care.