Why Bother with AI?
PART 1 of 3: A friendly Introduction for the Primary care team
How I Started Out
It was another late evening—a situation every GP knows too well. The corridors were empty, yet I was still stuck behind my desk, wading through emails, reports, and half-finished complaints. My thoughts had drifted to tomorrow’s clinic, but an unending stack of admin stood between me and any hope of dinner with my family.
The turning point wasn’t really a bright spark of genius; it was more a slow, tired realisation. I’d been experimenting with AI in my part-time charity work—first tentatively, then with increasing confidence—and saw how it began increasing both the quality and quantity of the work I did. It made me both incredibly efficient and incredibly good at my job. I began to wonder if it might do the same for my life in general practice.
Opinions at home remain split: my wife still has her doubts, despite my best efforts to convince her otherwise. Truth be told, her scepticism reflects how many of us in healthcare feel. But here’s the basic question that I keep chasing: Can Generative AI tools give us back even a small slice of our day? That might mean more time for the real reasons we work in General Practice in the first place—caring for patients, supporting colleagues, and yes, maybe even getting home on time.
Why It Matters for General Practice
Time is our most valuable currency in General Practice, yet it’s constantly eroded by paperwork. Clinical staff would prefer more focused, meaningful patient interactions, but end up wrestling with endless emails, referrals and documentation.
AI might not solve everything, but it can help us reclaim pockets of time—time that could bring us closer to the sort of patient care we always imagined giving. Of course, we’re rightly cautious: no one wants to risk confidentiality or rely on unreliable software. But starting small—well clear of sensitive patient data—lets us dip our toes without plunging headlong into the unknown.
Key Takeaway
It won’t fix everything, but it can free up precious minutes.
Those recouped minutes can mean better patient care or a more balanced personal life.
Being careful is wise: start with low-stakes tasks, protect patient information, and always double-check the output.
Taking the first steps
When I first tried AI, I avoided anything remotely clinical. I turned to the everyday admin that eats away at our morale: drafting repetitive emails, summarising guidelines, or brainstorming ways to improve the practice.
The results were striking, and sometimes unexpectedly helpful. AI-generated drafts saved me from the dreaded ‘blank-page’ struggle and took a lot of the mental load away from these more mundane tasks. Almost immediately, I felt less drained. Editing a decent draft is far easier than conjuring it from scratch, so I won back a handful of minutes each day. Not life-changing in a single burst, but over time it adds up in a big way. I began to play with the technology and approached it with a curiosity about what was possible.
Pro Tip: Start with something mundane—a routine meeting invite or staff rota. Input the details into ChatGPT or Claude and see if the first draft it spits out can save you time.
Yet, I also noticed that sometimes it missed the mark. That’s where our human judgment matters most. AI isn’t a golden ticket. It can ramble or state the obvious, and in clinical tasks it might confidently serve up half-truths. So, we remain the gatekeepers of accuracy. Think of AI as a slightly overeager admin assistant: useful, but in need of supervision.
Practical Tips & Implementation Guidance
Begin with Non-Clinical: Emails, policy outlines—jobs where errors won’t jeopardise patient care.
Always Review: GPs have the final say; AI can get facts wrong.
Stay Curious: Experiment in small doses. Think of it as training a new staff member—there’s a learning curve on both sides.
Conclusion & Key Takeaway
AI has near-limitless stamina for typing and summarising, but it can never replace your professional judgment. If it saves you a few hours a week, that might be worth exploring. Don’t write it off without trying it for simpler tasks—see if it genuinely eases your load.
Call to Action
Have you tried AI yet for everyday tasks, or do you remain unconvinced? Let me know in the comments. If a colleague is drowning in admin, feel free to share this post. And remember to subscribe for the next instalment, where we’ll dive deeper into how to use AI effectively—without risking patient safety.
FAQ
Q: Is it safe to use AI for practice documents?
A: If you’re not sharing confidential info, it’s generally low risk. Still, always read the output carefully.
Q: Will AI replace GPs?
A: No, it’s an assistant—human judgment and empathy remain firmly in our hands.
Disclaimer
These are my personal reflections. Consult your local guidelines before adopting AI for sensitive tasks. There’s no substitute for professional scrutiny, especially in healthcare.