NHS App to Gain AI Features Aimed at Empowering Patients and Reducing Health Inequalities

The NHS App is set to expand its capabilities with the introduction of a new artificial intelligence tool designed to help patients express their healthcare needs and ask informed questions during consultations.

The feature, called My Companion, is part of a broader strategy by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) to improve patient empowerment and satisfaction.

It provides trusted guidance to help individuals articulate their preferences, fostering more meaningful conversations with clinicians. The DHSC described the tool as a way to ensure “there are always two experts in every consulting room.”

Alongside this, a new My Choices feature will soon offer personalised local information on services such as surgery providers and nearby pharmacies.

Users will be able to compare data on wait times, outcomes, and patient satisfaction—enabling more tailored, data-driven decisions and moving away from the traditional “one size fits all” model of care.

The enhancements were unveiled as part of Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s announcement on the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan, which outlines a tech-enabled vision to reduce health inequalities and optimise NHS resources.

“Our ambition is to provide NHS patients with the same ease and convenience that’s afforded to private patients,” Streeting said. “Technology gives us the chance to democratise healthcare—putting patients in control, and making managing our health as simple as shopping or banking online.”