Report reveals scale of people using AI to manage health; medical misinformation insights; NHS App updates
Report: Millions turning to AI to ask healthcare questions
A report from artificial intelligence research organisation OpenAI explores how people are using AI to help manage their health. OpenAI – who created ChatGPT – released the AI as a Healthcare Ally report last month, the same month it launched ChatGPT Health.
The report findings were based on anonymised ChatGPT message data which revealed that:
- More than 1 in 20 messages are about healthcare, averaging billions of messages each week.
- More than 40 million turn to ChatGPT every day with healthcare questions.
- 7 in 10 health-related conversations in ChatGPT happen outside normal clinic hours, as people seek actionable information when facilities are closed.
According to an OpenAI survey, also featured in the report, 6 in 10 adults in the US say they have used AI tools for their health or healthcare in the past three months. They are using AI to get information when they first feel unwell or consulting it to prepare for their visits with their clinicians. They also use it to better understand patient instructions and translate jargon.
Find the full AI as a Healthcare Ally report on the OpenAI website here.
Cancer plan promises to tackle health inequalities
"Cancer patients – everywhere – will be diagnosed earlier, treated sooner and cared for better". Those were the words of Health Secretary Wes Streeting as he launched the National Cancer Plan this week. The plan aims to save 320,000 more lives by 2035 and comes with a commitment to meet all three national cancer waiting time standards for diagnosis and treatment. The plan also sets out to narrow health inequalities and end the postcode lottery with more cancer doctors for rural and coastal areas.
One of the many actions set out in the plan states Diagnosis Connect - a partnership between government and the charity sector - will ensure patients are referred directly to trusted charities and support organisations at the point of diagnosis. The full plan was unveiled a week after news of a £200million scheme to tackle inequalities in cancer screening was announced.
Read more about the inequalities fund on the GOV.UK website here.
Find out more about the National Cancer Plan on the GOV.UK website here.
- Cancer Research UK said it was pleased to see several of its priorities reflected in the cancer plan, including the full rollout of lung screening by 2030. It also welcomed a renewed commitment to earlier diagnosis and meeting all cancer waiting times targets by 2029. The PIF member says the introduction of cancer manuals, which will set out what good care looks like for each cancer type, could help but more detail was needed on how they will be developed. Read more analysis of the plan on the Cancer Research UK website here.
Identifying what makes medical information trustworthy
In this insight article from Opinium, Alex Chace explores how confident UK adults are in recognising accurate health information and what factors make them distrust different sources. The research on medical misinformation reveals almost 6 in 10 people feel confident in their ability to identify trustworthy medical information across a range of topics. This means nearly half of the population uncertain about whether the advice they encounter is reliable. A preference for official, trusted sources was also highlighted, and social media emerged as a significant risk factor for trust erosion.
The research also found that:
- NHS or government health websites were the dominant source of medical information.
- Around 1 in 3 said they lose trust when health information is not backed by scientific information.
- More than 1 in 4 view sensational or fear-based language as a warning sign when it comes to the trustworthiness.
- Almost 1 in 4 distrust health information shared on social platforms without verification.
Delving deeper into language, the report notes dramatic headlines and alarmist tone are often associated with bias or clickbait rather than credible health advice. To maintain authority, health communications should adopt a clear, balanced, and factual tone that informs rather than provokes anxiety.
Read the research on the Opinium website here.
Latest improvements to the NHS App unveiled
NHS England has provided an update on the latest developments and work to improve the NHS App. Managing appointments is a key element of the app. Recent work has included improvements to the GP appointment-booking journey and the launch of a pilot allowing patients on a Patient-Initiated Follow-Up pathway to request an appointment via the NHS App. Improving how waiting list data is presented and communicated is also being worked on.
More people are using the app to request prescriptions and work is underway to roll out prescription status viewing and tracking to more users. The app roadmap reveals work is also planned to help users to set reminders to request repeat prescriptions. This aims to support better medicines adherence and reduce usage of the emergency prescriptions service. Helping app users make the most of access to the GP health record is another area being worked on.
Find out more about the updates on the NHS England website here.
- In Wales, people can now see where they are on NHS waiting lists using the NHS Wales App. The latest update lets people who have been added to a waiting list since December check their waiting list status, view their referral into hospital care, and access information to help manage their health while waiting for treatment. More than 650,000 people have registered to use the bilingual NHS Wales App since it launched in April 2023 – equivalent to one in five adults in Wales.
Read more about the app updates on the NHS Wales website here.
Baby charity launches new video resources
National charity Bliss has created a series of videos to help neonatal professionals increase their understanding of the psychological impact of neonatal care on babies, families and on themselves. The videos feature experts and parents and aim to delve deeper into the challenges faced particularly by those who already experience health inequalities. PIF member Bliss partnered with The Relational Practice and Black Mothers Matter to produce the video resources, which include practical tips. The Black Mothers Matter team features on two videos which explore the mental health of parents racialised as Black on a neonatal unit.
Find the video resources on the Bliss website here.
Report: Academy is making a positive difference
The National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) has shared findings from its 2025 Stakeholder Survey. It gathered views from over 400 people across the NHS, voluntary and community organisations, local authorities, academia, government, and people with lived experience. An independent evaluation of the survey concluded that NASP is widely recognised as the trusted, authoritative voice for social prescribing across in England. Stakeholders said it was making a meaningful and positive difference and improving knowledge and understanding through the provision of accessible trusted information and evidence.
The survey also raised some challenges, including inconsistent funding for organisations, and weak integration between the NHS and community organisations. Respondents stressed the importance of avoiding over-reliance on digital channels, which can exclude key communities.
Read the full report on the NASP website here.
New literature searching e-learning guide available
NHS Education for Scotland (NES) Knowledge Services has launched a new e-learning guide to effective literature searching. The new guide is designed to make literature searching simple and practical and give people the confidence and skills to find the right evidence for research, projects or clinical tasks. The previous modules have been retired and replaced with the shorter, streamlined guide, which aims to help users:
- Define and plan your literature search.
- Turn your topic into a clear question.
- Identify key terms and concepts.
- Decide where to search.
- Build and refine your search strategy.
People will need a Turas account to access the module but anyone can register.