About The Authors

March 2026 - Health

A recent survey has revealed that a majority of UK adults feel positive about the dozen new uses for the NHS App outlined in the government's 10-Year Health Plan. Additionally, the survey provides insight into the level of public trust in AI for clinical patient care.

The Health Foundation's third annual health tech tracker - published March 2026 - polled a representative sample of 8,000 UK adults and 2,027 NHS staff members from July 30 to October 1, 2025. The survey aimed to gather their opinions on whether technology makes the quality of healthcare better, worse, or makes no difference.

When respondents in England were asked about their willingness to use the twelve proposed new tasks through the NHS App, they expressed the strongest support for non-specialist, routine interactions. Three-quarters (76%) indicated they would book hospital appointments via the app, while 73% would use it to select their preferred hospital for treatment or to obtain more information about their health, treatments, or procedures. In contrast, the "doctor in your pocket" feature — providing health advice from an AI tool for non-urgent problems —received endorsement from just half (49%) of those surveyed.

The data also indicates that while public support for the use of AI in patient care is generally positive, it is more cautious compared to its use for non-clinical purposes. When asked if they believe “AI is safe to use for patient care,” only a third (32%) agreed, while 23% disagreed. Similarly, only 29% believed that AI makes the right decisions, compared to 26% who disagreed. Furthermore, more than a third (36%) of respondents felt that AI is less accurate than a doctor, while just a quarter (24%) believed it is more accurate.

These findings clearly suggest that, at least for now, the public is more comfortable using AI for routine functions than for direct patient care.

Ahmed Binesmael, Senior Improvement Analyst at the Health Foundation, stated: “As policymakers seek to develop the UK’s approach to overseeing and regulating AI in healthcare, it will be important to create an environment where the use of AI is trusted by patients and the public. Meaningful engagement with the public will be essential to get this right.”

Other Health Research Findings

Other Latest Market Research Insights