NHSE to roll out Microsoft AI assistant to 505,000 NHS staff

NHS England is rolling out Microsoft 365 Copilot to 505,000 clinicians and support staff across healthcare services.

The AI assistant is designed to help clinicians draft documents and analyse data more efficiently, allowing them to spend more time on patient care.

Each NHS trust will receive a central allocation of licenses based on organisational headcount, typically starting at around 2,000 Microsoft 365 Copilot licences. The rollout across the NHS is expected to be completed by October 2026.

Rob Thompson, chief digital, data and technology officer at NHS England, said: “The NHS wants to embrace cutting-edge technology, and this Microsoft partnership will mean staff can be freed from admin so they can focus more of their time on what matters most – improving care for patients.

“Innovations like this will help drive NHS productivity so patients can get the treatment they need sooner and there is better value for taxpayers.

“The potential to save NHS staff around two days of admin time every month could be a gamechanger for patients.

“As part of our 10 year health plan, we’re making sure every pound is spent on cutting waiting times and boosting care.”

The agreement follows the largest AI trial of its kind globally in healthcare, which provided more than 30,000 NHS workers across 90 NHS organisations with access to Microsoft 365 Copilot.

It found that AI-powered administrative support saved staff an average of 43 minutes a day, equivalent to around five working weeks annually.

Results from the trial suggested that a wider rollout of Microsoft Copilot could save significant amounts of staff time.

Darren Hardman, chief executive at Microsoft UK and Ireland, said: “By rolling out Microsoft 365 Copilot at scale, NHS teams can cut through everyday admin and spend more time where it matters most.

“Bringing AI safely into the flow of healthcare will help ease pressures, improve productivity and support better decision-making across the health service.

“We’re proud to work with NHS England to help tackle some of its biggest challenges and accelerate digital transformation for the benefit of staff and patients alike.”

NHS England said Copilot could be used across a range of roles, including helping clinicians draft letters and support registrar training. It could also assist ward clerks with patient discharge processes, service data analysis, rota management and bed management.

Copilot is also expected to help medical secretaries draft patient letters and meeting minutes, and create standardised templates.

In March 2026, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust announced that it is expanding the use of AI tools across its workforce after working with Microsoft over the past 18 months to explore how AI can support staff in their day-to-day work.

The trust deployed Dragon Copilot ambient voice technology to hundreds of clinicians and provided around 1,500 Microsoft 365 Copilot licences to staff.