TL;DR

A Health Foundation survey of 8,000 members of the public and 2,000 NHS staff found strong appetite for expanding NHS App features — 76% would use it to book hospital appointments — but far less enthusiasm for AI-driven care. Only 49% said they would use an AI “Doctor in Your Pocket” for non-urgent matters, while 32% said they would not. Women, younger adults, and people on lower incomes were the most cautious groups.

What the Poll Found

The Health Foundation commissioned one of the largest surveys to date on public attitudes towards digital health and AI in the NHS. The results paint a clear picture: people want better digital tools, but they draw a sharp line at AI making clinical decisions.

Support for expanding the NHS App’s existing functionality was high across nearly all demographics. 76% of respondents said they would use the app to book hospital appointments, and 73% would use it to choose their preferred hospital. These are straightforward digital conveniences that extend what many patients already do through GP booking systems.

The mood shifted when the survey asked about AI. Only 49% said they would use an AI-powered “Doctor in Your Pocket” service for non-urgent health concerns. 32% said they would not use it at all, with the remainder undecided.

Who Is Most Cautious

The polling revealed notable demographic differences in AI attitudes. Women were consistently less positive about AI in healthcare than men. Younger adults aged 16 to 24, often assumed to be more comfortable with technology, were actually among the most cautious groups. People on lower incomes also expressed greater reservations.

More broadly, 55% of the public agreed that technology improves the quality of healthcare. But when the question specified AI rather than technology in general, that figure dropped to 38%. The gap suggests that public concern is specifically about AI, not about digital tools as a whole.

NHS Sector Response

The NHS Confederation responded to the findings by emphasising that AI deployment must run alongside strong data governance and robust cyber security measures. The message signals that NHS leadership recognises public trust cannot be assumed — it must be earned through transparent safeguards and demonstrable benefits.

The 2,000 NHS staff surveyed provided an additional perspective, though the detailed breakdown of staff attitudes has not yet been fully published. Early indications suggest staff are broadly more receptive to AI tools that reduce administrative burden, but share public concerns about AI in direct patient care.

Looking Forward

These findings arrive as the government pushes to modernise NHS digital infrastructure. For policymakers, the message is that expanding the NHS App’s booking and administrative features has broad public backing and should proceed. AI-powered clinical tools, however, will require sustained public engagement, transparent governance, and clear evidence of safety before they win majority support. The demographic gaps in confidence also suggest that any rollout must actively address the concerns of women, younger adults, and lower-income communities to avoid deepening existing health inequalities.