You are the consulting clinician. Even as a trainee, the responsibility for patient notification about AI scribe use is yours.
Current UK Approach
Most approved AI scribes operate on a notification basis rather than explicit consent. The practice informs patients that AI tools may be used during consultations — via waiting room notices, website privacy policies, and verbal notification at consultation start.
Practice-Level Requirements
Your practice should have a patient notification approach in place. Check with your practice manager or Caldicott Guardian. If no notification approach exists, raise it — this is a governance gap.
Trainee Responsibility
Even if your practice has a general notice, verbally checking with each patient is good practice. A brief, confident statement: "I'm using a tool that transcribes our conversation to help me create accurate notes. The recording is processed securely and deleted after the notes are generated. Is that alright with you?"
This takes 10 seconds. It demonstrates transparency. It practises the communication skill. It respects patient autonomy.
Patient Opt-Out
Patients can decline. You must be prepared to consult without the scribe — which means your manual note-writing skills must be maintained. This is another reason for regular deliberate practice without AI scribing.
Special Considerations
Capacity concerns — can the patient understand and consent to AI use? Children and young people — consider age-appropriate notification. Sensitive consultations (sexual health, mental health, domestic abuse) — consider whether scribe use is appropriate in each case. Some patients may feel inhibited by recording — prioritise the therapeutic relationship over documentation efficiency.
Documentation
Consider noting in the clinical record that the patient was informed of AI scribe use. This provides a governance audit trail.
Where iatroX Fits
Patient communication about AI tools is itself an SCA-relevant skill — practising transparent consent conversations during training strengthens your Relating to Others domain performance.