How to choose an AI scribe for a UK vet practice
What to check before choosing a veterinary AI scribe: UK GDPR, your note template, PMS integration, and reviewing notes before saving.
The best AI scribe for a UK vet practice writes accurate clinical notes in your clinic's template, links them to your practice management system (PMS), and keeps client data safe under UK GDPR protocols. A good fit matters more than pure functionality.
AI tools are now common in veterinary practice. In a 2024 survey of 3,968 veterinary professionals, mostly in the US, 39.2% said they already use AI tools at work (Digitail and AAHA, 2024).
What to check before you choose a veterinary AI scribe
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| UK GDPR and data storage | Client confidentiality and data protection should be maintained when using AI (RCVS, 2026) |
| Your own note template | Less editing after every consult |
| PMS integration | No copy and paste |
| Easy review before saving | AI-generated clinical records should be manually verified (RCVS, 2026) |
| Beyond the consult | Discharge letters, prescriptions and pre-consult summaries save more time |
Look beyond the consult note
One of the biggest time savings often comes from what happens before and after the consult. Ask Arlo, for example, gives a one-click pre-consult summary of the patient's history and drafts discharge instructions alongside the clinical note.
Do I need a DPIA for an AI scribe?
The ICO lists AI as an innovative technology that may trigger a data protection impact assessment and recommends conducting one if in any doubt (ICO).
New to AI scribes? Start with how a veterinary AI scribe works. Looking at AI for clinical questions rather than notes? See eight questions to ask before choosing an AI assistant.
Sources
- Digitail and AAHA (2024) 39.2% of veterinary professionals use AI tools in their practice. PR Newswire, 15 February. Available at: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/39-2-of-veterinary-professionals-use-ai-tools-in-their-practice--digitail-and-aaha-survey-302062525.html
- Information Commissioner's Office (no date) When do we need to do a DPIA? Available at: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/accountability-and-governance/data-protection-impact-assessments-dpias/when-do-we-need-to-do-a-dpia
- Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (2026) Using artificial intelligence (AI) in practice: advice for the profession. Available at: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/veterinary-professionals/conduct-and-guidance/resources-and-updates/using-artificial-intelligence-ai-in-practice-advice-for-the-profession