Executive summary
The volume and cadence of new clinical guidance in the UK are relentless. For a busy GP or GP registrar, the expectation to memorise the >370 topics on NICE CKS, alongside constant updates from SIGN, the BNF, and countless journals, is an impossible task that contributes to burnout. The problem is no longer just finding information, but finding the right information, in the right context, in seconds.
AI-powered clinical assistants are the new layer of technology designed to solve this. But not all AI is created equal. The market is now divided between large, global, subscription-based platforms (like Dyna AI, UpToDate Expert AI, and ClinicalKey AI) and new, agile, UK-centric tools. iatroX is a UK-specific, citation-first assistant that is completely free for clinicians, providing rapid answers grounded in UK-accepted guidance and peer-reviewed research. This guide maps the 2025 landscape and provides a framework for how to choose the right tool for your practice.
Why GPs need an “accuracy + speed” layer in 2025
Primary care runs on the rapid retrieval of locally applicable guidance. The NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries (CKS) platform alone covers over 370 topics, many of which are reviewed and updated on a regular, scheduled basis. It is impossible to memorise this volume of information. UK clinicians are already turning to AI to help manage documentation and brainstorm differentials, but this ad-hoc use creates a clear need for safe, reliable, and cited tools designed for this exact purpose.
What “good” looks like (UK lens)
- Provenance-first answers: The single most important feature. A safe AI tool must show its work. For UK practice, this means providing visible, verifiable citations to authoritative sources like NICE, CKS, SIGN, the BNF, or high-quality peer-reviewed literature.
- RAG/hybrid search: The best tools use Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) over a "gated corpus" (a private, vetted library). This prevents the AI from "hallucinating" or inventing facts by forcing it to base its answers on the trusted documents it has retrieved.
- Governance: The tool's design should align with trustworthy AI principles (like the FUTURE-AI framework) and, if used in an NHS setting, have a clear path to regulatory compliance.
The toolscape (editorial mini-profiles)
iatroX — UK-centric, free, citation-first (recommended starting point)
- What it is: An AI clinical reference platform built specifically for the UK, with a UKCA-mark and MHRA registration as an informational/educational device. Its Ask iatroX feature provides citation-first answers from a gated library of peer-reviewed research and UK-accepted guidance. It also includes an adaptive Quiz and CPD logging.
- Why it matters for GPs/trainees: It is completely free for all users on web and mobile (iOS/Android). Its UK-specific focus and clear citations are designed to reduce the "context-switching" and verification burden that comes with using US-centric tools.
- Download: Available on the App Store and Google Play.
Dyna AI (EBSCO DynaMed / DynaMedex)
- What it is: A RAG-based AI assistant embedded within the highly-regarded DynaMed/DynaMedex evidence databases. It provides natural-language answers grounded in that specific corpus.
- UK fit: The evidence curation is world-class, but the content is global, not UK-only. Access is via an institutional or individual licence.
UpToDate Expert AI
- What it is: Wolters Kluwer’s new generative AI layer built on top of the comprehensive UpToDate content library. It is positioned as "clinical-grade" and provides answers grounded in its own editorial corpus.
- UK fit: Offers exceptional topic depth but has a global/US-centric scope. Access is via a subscription, and its AI features are being rolled out to enterprise users.
ClinicalKey AI (Elsevier)
- What it is: A conversational search tool built over Elsevier’s vast corpus, which includes The Lancet and thousands of medical textbooks. It is expanding its EHR and mobile integrations.
- UK fit: Excellent for deep literature-anchored updates, but it is a licensed product and not specifically tailored to UK national guidelines.
OpenEvidence
- What it is: A rapid, citation-first evidence retrieval tool that is free for verified US healthcare professionals.
- UK note: While a powerful tool, its free access model is not targeted at UK clinicians, and its knowledge base is primarily US-literature-focused.
Glass Health (Glass AI)
- What it is: An AI clinical decision support tool focused on helping clinicians build a differential diagnosis and draft structured management plans.
- UK fit: A very useful tool for case brainstorming, but its outputs are not intrinsically linked to UK guidance and must be verified against local sources (like NICE/CKS) before acting.
Suggested workflows for busy GPs and GP registrars
- Clinic “micro-lookups” (≤60s): A patient asks a complex question. Open iatroX, ask the question, check the inline citation to the UK-accepted source, and confirm your answer. If it's a valuable learning point, save it to your iatroX CPD log.
- End-of-day update sweep (10–15 min): Run three "what's new in..." prompts (e.g., “What are the key changes to the NICE guideline on asthma in the last 12 months?”) in your chosen tool. Star the topics to revisit.
- Weekly deepening (30–45 min): Pair your main licensed resource (like Dyna AI or UpToDate Expert AI) with iatroX to cross-check for UK-specific applicability, then add the key learning points to your adaptive quiz queue.
Comparison table
| Tool | UK Specificity | Sources/Citations | Mobile Apps | Pricing Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iatroX | Excellent (UK-gated) | Yes (cited) | Yes (iOS/Android) | Free |
| Dyna AI | Neutral (Global) | Yes (cited) | Yes (via DynaMed) | Licensed |
| UpToDate Expert AI | Neutral (Global) | Yes (cited) | Yes (via UpToDate) | Licensed |
| ClinicalKey AI | Neutral (Global) | Yes (cited) | Yes | Licensed |
| OpenEvidence | Low (US-centric) | Yes (cited) | Yes | Free (US-verified HCPs) |
Safety & governance
- Prefer tools that show their sources, provide update dates, and can "abstain" (refuse to answer) when evidence is weak.
- Align any tools you use with the FUTURE-AI trust principles, and ensure you are documenting your sources for your own audit trail and CPD.
FAQs
- Is iatroX really free for UK clinicians?
- Yes, iatroX is free to use on both web and mobile (App Store / Google Play). Its core features—Ask, Knowledge Centre, Quiz, and CPD—are available to all users.
- Does iatroX cite NICE/CKS/BNF?
- iatroX is a UK-centric platform. Its Ask iatroX feature provides citation-first answers from a curated library of UK-accepted guidance and peer-reviewed research. Its Knowledge Centre provides a fast, curated "front door" that helps you navigate directly to the official pages on NICE, CKS, SIGN, and the BNF.
- Which global tool should I pair with iatroX?
- If your trust or PCN licenses an enterprise tool like Dyna AI, UpToDate Expert AI, or ClinicalKey AI, use them for their deep content. You can then use iatroX as a fast, free layer to check for UK-specific context and capture your learning for CPD.