Heidi and Tortus – Ambient Voice Technology (AVT)

We’re trialling new technology to make your appointments more relaxed and focused on you. Here’s what you need to know:

What is Ambient Voice Technology (AVT)?

AVT is an AI medical scribe that helps clinicians with note-taking. It transcribes the conversation as you talk, so your clinician can focus on you — not the computer.

Which systems are we using?

We’re currently trialling two AVT systems:

• Heidi
• Tortus

Why are we doing this?

We want to:

Make appointments feel more relaxed and patient focused.
Help clinicians spend more time listening to you and, if your appointment is in person, looking at you - not the computer!
Improve accuracy and efficiency in note-taking.

Will my conversation be recorded?

No.

• Whilst all our calls are recorded within our telephone system, no audio recordings are kept within Heidi or Tortus.
• Your clinician reviews and edits the consultation, and decides which notes to save, and only those go into your medical record, which remains protected under NHS data security standards.

Do I have a choice?

Absolutely!

• If you’d prefer your clinician not to use AI during your appointment, just let them know — no problem at all.

Published: Dec 4, 2025