What is Heidi?
Heidi is a digital, Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool that helps your clinician write notes during your appointment.
Your appointment works in exactly the same way it used to. Heidi just helps us with the paperwork.
Instead of your clinician having to type everything themselves, Heidi ‘listens’ to the conversation (with your permission) and creates a draft summary. Your clinician then checks and edits this before it is saved in your health record.
Heidi does not make decisions about your care.
Why do we use Heidi?
Heidi means your clinician can focus more on you, rather than typing notes during your appointment.
It also supports more accurate record keeping and saves time that can be used caring for service users.
Why use Heidi instead of standard speech-to-text?
Heidi does more than turn speech into text. It helps organise information into clear clinical notes, which your clinician can then check and edit.
This can reduce the need for typing during appointments and supports more consistent record keeping.
What happens during my appointment?
Your clinician will ask for consent before using Heidi. If you agree:
- It will listen to the conversation and create a draft written summary
- Your clinician will review, edit and approve the notes
Only the final checked version is added to your health record.
Will Heidi understand my accent or speech?
Heidi is designed to work with a wide range of voices and ways of speaking. However, like any technology, it may occasionally mishear something. Your clinician carefully checks and edits all notes produced by Heidi to make sure they are accurate and reflect what was discussed.
When will my clinician check the notes?
Clinicians review and check the notes shortly after your appointment, and always before they are added to your health record.
Does Heidi record my appointment?
No. Heidi listens to the conversation to create notes, but it isn’t a permanent recording.
Once your clinician has finished writing your notes, the draft transcript is deleted, and it can’t be recovered. Nothing is stored beyond what ends up in your clinical record. We know some people might feel uncomfortable with this, and that’s completely understandable. You can say no, and your care won’t be affected in any way.
How is my information kept safe?
Your information is handled in line with NHS data protection and confidentiality standards. It is protected under UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Heidi is only used to support your clinical care. In addition:
- Clinicians must check all notes before they are saved
- Information is accessed only on secure NHS devices and systems
- Draft transcripts are not stored longer than necessary and are deleted once the notes have been added to your record.
Your clinician is always responsible for your care and your records. They will check everything Heidi produces, correct any mistakes, and make sure your record is accurate and appropriate.
Do I have a choice?
Yes. This is very important.
You will always be asked if you are happy for Heidi to be used. You can change your mind and say no at any time, including partway through the appointment.
Saying no won’t affect your care in any way. Just tell your clinician, and they will stop using Heidi straight away.
I have a question. Who can I speak to?
If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to your clinician or contact our Information Governance team at navigo.dpo@nhs.net.
If you would like more detailed information about how Heidi works, including technical information, please visit the Heidi website.
If you or someone you know would like this information in another format or language, such as Braille, large print, audio or Easy Read, please contact us. Call (01472) 583000 or email navigo.comms@nhs.net.