As reported by Digital Health, NHS England has raised concerns that the inappropriate use of AI translation apps in healthcare could cause risks to patient safety
The ‘Improvement framework: community language translation and interpreting services’, report published by NHSE on 27 May 2025, warns that digital exclusion can prevent the one million people in the UK who do not speak good English from accessing NHS services.
The framework raises concerns about the widespread use of AI translation apps across the NHS, noting that while these tools offer speed and convenience, they can pose risks to patient safety due to issues with accuracy. “While translation apps provide a convenient, familiar and timely means of translation, they can also carry risks, particularly regarding accuracy and the potential impact on patient safety,” the report states.
In response, NHS England is urging national programme teams to develop a formal policy briefing on the ethical and appropriate use of AI in translation and interpreting within healthcare. This would establish clear guidelines on the clinical safety of AI outputs, define when AI tools are appropriate, and identify scenarios where alternative methods should take precedence.
Additionally, the framework calls for consistent national guidance to ensure patients’ language needs are properly recorded in electronic patient records across all care settings.
