AI Reports · Microsoft · 2026-10-21 · Blog / commentary
Before the ambulance arrives: How AI is helping the NHS rethink patient care
When someone in the UK dials 999 for an ambulance, much of the planning, training, analysis and coordination happens long before a paramedic reaches the patient. Following an earlier trial involving 30,000 employees, NHS England announced plans in June 2026 to make Microsoft Copilot available to as many as 505,000 clinicians and support staff. Trial participants reported saving an average of 43 minutes per working day — which adds up to about five weeks per person a year.