January 28, 2026
For much of the last decade, the story of ambient voice technology (AVT) in healthcare has been one of ingenuity with many clinicians now experimenting with new tools to reclaim time and reduce administrative burden. However, as these technologies move from pilot projects to everyday practice, the challenge is no longer capability; it’s confidence.
The launch of NHS England’s AVT Self-Certification Registry is a recognition of that shift. It signals the transition from innovation for its own sake to innovation built on transparency, governance, and evidence, forming the foundations of sustainable digital transformation.
The AVT Self-Certification Registry is part of NHS England’s plan to bring structure and transparency to a rapidly expanding market. It is a centralised platform where suppliers of AI-enabled scribing tools provide verified evidence of compliance with key standards, including DTAC, MHRA Class 1 registration, post-market surveillance, and integration readiness.
Alongside the registry, an accompanying resource library will provide buyers, from GP practices to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and acute trusts, with access to the same baseline information: capability documentation, demo videos, pricing, and proof of compliance.
In practice, that means less guesswork and more consistency when procuring an AVT. Historically, every NHS organisation ran its own procurement checks, asking slightly different questions and receiving uneven levels of detail. The result was a patchwork of understanding: buyers struggled to compare like-for-like.
The registry changes that. It creates a shared language for evaluating AVT solutions — a consistent framework that supports both safety and scale. Buyers still retain autonomy in how they assess and procure, but now they’ll start from the same informed foundation.
Instead of relying on marketing claims or variable due diligence processes, buyers will now have access to a standardised dataset of documentation, evidence, and assurance materials all in one place. This not only speeds up procurement but also strengthens confidence in the solutions being adopted.
Importantly, the registry doesn’t replace local governance. Every NHS organisation will still perform its own assessments and approvals. What changes is the starting point: a consistent base of information that levels the playing field and reduces duplication across the system.
For suppliers, inclusion on this self-certified registry isn’t just about visibility; it’s about credibility.
That matters in a market where new entrants are appearing fast and expectations around AI governance are tightening. Vendors will need to demonstrate not only technical capability but ongoing responsibility which includes maintaining up-to-date certifications, sharing post-market monitoring data, and ensuring marketing materials accurately reflect live functionality.
It’s also a mechanism for fair competition. When every supplier is required to provide the same information, from integration capabilities to performance metrics, buyers can finally make meaningful, like-for-like comparisons. In our view, this means that transparency becomes a marker of quality rather than an administrative obligation.
The introduction of the AVT Self-Certification Registry marks the beginning of maturity for the UK’s ambient voice market. For the first time, the conversation is no longer just about what’s possible, but about what’s proven, compliant, and scalable.
To realise the full potential of AVTs, the NHS must now also align on how outcomes are measured and shared. Clear, evidence-based benchmarks for care quality, accuracy, and usability will help buyers make confident decisions and give vendors the incentive to keep raising the bar. This is how we build a more standardised and transparent market, creating the foundations for healthy competition and meaningful innovation.
More can be read about the self-certification process here:
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