Introduction

For many clinicians, documentation has always been a time drain. In UK private practice and NHS outpatient clinics alike, writing up consultation letters or notes can consume hours every week. Traditional dictation, speech‑to‑text software, and now AI‑powered scribes all offer different workflows — but how do they compare in terms of speed, accuracy, cost, and patient impact?

In this blog, we’ll break down the three main approaches, highlight recent trial data, and explain why AI scribes are becoming a clinician‑centred solution for reducing admin burden while enhancing care.

Traditional Dictation & Human Transcription

How it works: Doctors dictate their notes or letters, and a secretary or transcriptionist types them up later for sign‑off.

Pros:

Minimal typing for the doctor — usually just a few minutes of dictation.
Professional transcriptionists often achieve 96–99% accuracy.
Neatly formatted letters with fewer corrections needed.

Cons:

Delays: One UK study found letters took ~10.7 days on average to reach recipients.
Costs: Outsourced transcription runs $1.50–5.00 per audio minute (£1.20–£4). For a 15‑minute dictation, that’s ~£18–£60.
Slower communication may impact care coordination, especially for referrals.

Takeaway: Reliable but slow and costly. Suits practices with dedicated admin support, less so for busy private GPs or time‑sensitive care.

Speech‑to‑Text Software (Voice Recognition)

How it works: Software like Dragon Medical transcribes speech directly into text. Doctors dictate, then edit and format the output themselves.

Pros:

Immediate text output — letters can often be sent the same day.
Eliminates transcription queues.
Lower cost than paying per‑minute transcription services.

Cons:

Extra workload: One study found doctors spent ~60% more time per letter compared to traditional dictation (due to correcting errors and formatting).
Accuracy issues: Typical word error rates are 7–15%. Errors in medication names or dosages require careful review.
Distraction: Dictating with commands (“comma,” “full stop”) can interrupt the patient interaction.

Takeaway: Faster turnaround, but pushes more clerical work onto clinicians. Efficiency gains are mixed.

AI‑Enhanced Medical Scribes

How it works: AI listens to the doctor–patient conversation (or dictation) and generates a structured draft note or letter. Unlike raw speech‑to‑text, it organises information into sections such as history, findings, and plan.

Pros:

Time back to doctors: In a landmark 2025 NHS trial (GOSH DRIVE, London), clinicians spent 23.5% more time face‑to‑face with patients when using AI scribes.
Efficiency gains: Average appointment times dropped by 8.2%; emergency doctors saw 13.4% more patients per shift.
Burnout reduction: 35% fewer clinicians reported feeling overwhelmed by note‑taking.
Patient engagement: 92% of patients consented to AI scribe use, with many reporting improved doctor interaction.
Cost efficiency: Economic modelling projected £176m annual savings in documentation time and £658m in added capacity across England.

Cons:

AI can misinterpret or “hallucinate” details. Clinician review remains essential.
Data privacy and compliance (e.g. GDPR, HIPAA) must be rigorously maintained.

Takeaway: AI scribes represent the next step in clinical documentation: speeding up letters while freeing doctors to focus on care, not clerical work.

Key Comparisons

Turnaround Time:

Traditional transcription: ~10 days.
Voice recognition: ~7 days.
AI scribes: Draft ready during or immediately after consultation.

Clinician Workload:

Dictation + human typing: ~7–10 minutes.
Voice recognition: ~17 minutes (dictating + editing).
AI scribe: Minimal dictation/editing required.

Accuracy:

Human transcription: ~96–99%.
Voice recognition: 85–93% (errors concentrated in medical terms).
AI scribe: Improve completeness by structuring notes, but doctors must still check for occasional miscaptures or omissions.

Costs:

Human transcription: Highest (per‑minute charges).
Voice recognition: Lower (software licence, but higher doctor time cost).
AI scribes: Subscription‑based, offset by efficiency and capacity gains.

Patient Experience:

Dictation: Documentation happens after the visit.
Voice recognition: Can be distracting mid‑consultation.
AI scribe: Enables more direct doctor–patient connection.

Why This Matters for Clinicians

Clinical documentation isn’t just admin — it’s the backbone of communication between providers, patients, and insurers. But when doctors spend evenings finishing notes or miss family time correcting transcripts, the human toll is clear.

AI scribes don’t replace clinical judgment — they support it. By automating first drafts and allowing doctors to stay present with patients, they embody Docyment’s mission: freeing clinicians from paperwork to refocus on care.

Imagine finishing your last clinic of the day with all your notes ready, not waiting for transcription or staying late to edit voice‑recognised drafts. That’s the reality AI scribes can deliver.

👉 Stary using Docyment for free today and reclaim your time for what matters most — your patients.

References

Sandilyan, M. B., & Darley, J. (2013). Voice recognition software: psychiatrist as transcriber. The Psychiatrist, 37(4), 130‑134. https://doi.org/10.1192/pb.bp.112.038950
Zhou, L., Blackley, S. V., Kowalski, L., et al. (2018). Analysis of errors in dictated clinical documents assisted by speech recognition software and professional transcriptionists. JAMA Network Open, 1(3), e180530. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.0530
Great Ormond Street Hospital DRIVE. (2025, September 4). GOSH‑led trial of AI‑scribe technology shows ‘transformative’ benefits for patients and clinicians across London. https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/news/researchgosh-led-trial-of-ai-scribe-technology-shows-transformative-benefits-for-patients-and-clinicians-across-london/
Leung, T. I., Coristine, A. J., & Benis, A. (2025). AI Scribes in Health Care: Balancing Transformative Potential With Responsible Integration. JMIR Medical Informatics, e80898. https://doi.org/10.2196/80898
NHS England. (2025, April 27). Guidance on the use of AI‑enabled ambient scribing products in health and care settings. https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/guidance-on-the-use-of-ai-enabled-ambient-scribing-products-in-health-and-care-settings/