AI health tool missed emergencies; NHS messaging guidance; Rare diseases action plan

Study: New ChatGPT Health tool missed high-risk emergencies

A study published in Nature Medicine has revealed the new AI tool ChatGPT Health told more than half of people with medical emergencies to stay at home. Researchers in America gave the AI tool several clinical scenarios and asked it to triage them, resulting in recommendations to stay at home, make a non-urgent appointment or go to hospital immediately. Nature Medicine said the study found missed high-risk emergencies and inconsistent activation of crisis safeguards. 

A blog about the study shared on Substack said the results were concerning. The blog added that while the AI tool performed reasonably well with “textbook emergencies” like stroke and anaphylaxis, it did less well with emergencies that were still early in their clinical course. The study also found suicide crisis intervention messages were unpredictable.

Read more analysis of the study on the Substack website here.

Find the study on the Nature Medicine website here (subscription may be required).

Best practice guidance for NHS messages

NHS England Digital has shared some best practice guidance for those writing and sending NHS App messages, text messages, emails and letters. The guidance says it is to help NHS teams design clear, safe and effective messages that will help patients manage their healthcare. Using new insights from user research, the guidance was created in collaboration with clinical safety, governance and delivery teams across NHS England. 

It includes sections on using NHS Notify, the national messaging service for NHS England; using the right message channel; and considering accessibility and inclusion when communicating with patients. There is also a link to the NHS Content guide, which includes additional guidance on tone of voice, formatting and writing for different channels, with examples of NHS App messages, texts, emails and letters.

Find out more on the NHS England Digital website here.

Latest rare diseases action plan published

The Department of Health and Social Care has published its England Rare Diseases Action Plan 2026. The plan - the fifth for England since the UK Rare Diseases Framework was agreed across all four nations in 2021 - sets out how the government's 10 Year Health Plan will work in practice to make the NHS work better for people with rare conditions. 

It also looks at the progress made in England against the four priorities of the UK Rare Diseases Framework, which are:

• Helping patients get a final diagnosis faster.
• Increased awareness of rare diseases among healthcare professionals.
• Better co-ordination of care.
• Improved access to specialist care, treatment and drugs.

Read the full report on the GOV.UK website here.

Public opinion on using AI in general practice

Research from The Health Foundation has shown public opinion is mixed on the acceptability of using AI in general practice. The charity published a briefing setting out the findings from its ninth wave of public polling on attitudes to the NHS. Making it easier to get appointments at GP practices and improving A&E waiting times were tied as the public’s top priorities. 

The latest survey found just under half of people said they had a health concern they thought of contacting their GP practice about but delayed doing so, or did not contact it at all. Reasons given were linked to perceived problems with getting an appointment or difficulties contacting the practice. Nearly 3 in 10 opted for self-care. 

The survey found public opinion was mixed on the acceptability of AI for different GP activities. On balance, the public found the use of AI more acceptable for non-clinical administration, planning and delivering population-level services, and recording and summarising consultations. Fewer people found it acceptable to use AI for providing health advice and to prioritise which patients should be seen.

Read more about the research on The Health Foundation website here.

New health research digital platform launched

A new mobile app and digital research platform aims to strengthen public involvement in health research while making engagement simpler for researchers. VoiceIn is being led by the University of Manchester and funded by the UKRI Medical Research Council and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester. Public contributors using the free VoiceIn mobile app can: 

• Discover health research studies that match their interests.
• Provide quick feedback on research ideas using their phone.
• Contribute anonymously whenever it suits them.
• Stay informed about research topics that matter to them.

Researchers will be able to easily upload projects, connect with diverse voices and receive rapid feedback. 

Find out more on the Dementia Researcher website here.

Free health checks for fishing communities 

A project is bringing dental treatment, health checks, mental health support and physiotherapy directly to harbours across Wales. The Stronger at Sea project is offering fishermen and their families free healthcare at their local harbour. Services are free, confidential and require no appointment and remove the need for lengthy travel and difficult scheduling that has long prevented many from accessing essential services. The initiative is a partnership between the Welsh Government and the Welsh Fishermen's Association, working together with The Fishermen's Mission and the Seafarers Hospital Society.

Find out more on the Welsh Government website here.

Campaign calls for patient feedback

The Care Quality Commission is planning its second Share for Better care awareness week encouraging people to give feedback about their care. The Share for Better care campaign highlights how valuable feedback helps to identify where and how services can improve. The campaign is focusing on collecting experiences from people from seldom-heard communities, particularly those who are most likely to have a poorer experience of care and inequalities. These communities include ethnic minority communities; lower-income communities; autistic people and people with a learning disability; and disabled people with physical or sensory impairments. The awareness week is due to take place from 23 March.
Read more about the campaign on the CQC website here.