In a bold move to reshape clinical workflows and reduce administrative burden, Microsoft has launched Dragon Copilot, a cutting-edge AI assistant designed specifically for healthcare professionals. First introduced to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) in September 2025, Dragon Copilot is now expanding across Europe, starting with Germany.

This AI-powered solution is already transforming how clinicians interact with patients, manage documentation, and deliver care—bringing the focus back to what matters most: the patient.

What Is Dragon Copilot?

Dragon Copilot is a clinical AI assistant that blends three powerful technologies into one seamless experience:

• Dragon Medical One: Natural language voice dictation
• Dragon Ambient eXperience (DAX): Ambient listening that captures real-time conversations
• Generative AI: Fine-tuned for healthcare, capable of drafting documentation, letters, and after-visit summaries

Together, these tools allow clinicians to automate documentation, capture patient interactions, and streamline follow-up tasks, all while maintaining a human-centered approach to care.

UK Launch: A Game-Changer for the NHS

On September 4, 2025, Microsoft officially introduced Dragon Copilot to the NHS. The launch followed a successful private preview program involving over 200 clinicians across seven healthcare organizations, covering more than 10,000 consultations.

The results were impressive:

• 5 minutes saved per consultation
• 70% of clinicians reported reduced burnout
• 93% of patients felt they were better heard during visits

Dr. Henry Morriss, Emergency Physician at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, emphasized the value of ambient voice AI:

“Without ambient, I’ve got to go back to the desk and type that up… With ambient, I get back and there it is. It’s made me get diagnostic answers quicker.”

Dragon Copilot is also certified as a Class 1 medical device by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and complies with NHS England’s Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC), ISO/IEC 27001, and DCB-0129 standards.

Expansion into Europe

Following its success in the UK and Ireland, Dragon Copilot is now being rolled out across Europe, with Germany being the first country to adopt the technology in clinical settings starting July 2025.

Microsoft’s vision is clear: to reduce bureaucracy, improve care quality, and support clinician wellbeing across diverse healthcare systems. The AI assistant is also integrated into Microsoft Fabric, enabling scalable data analysis to support research, patient care, and early disease detection. 

Built for Real-World Healthcare

Dragon Copilot is designed to fit naturally into clinical workflows. It enables:

• Ambient note creation during consultations
• Speech recognition for dictation and editing
• Customizable templates and AI prompts
• Secure data handling with offline capabilities

Clinicians can narrate findings during patient interactions without breaking eye contact, enhancing both accuracy and rapport. As Dr. Peter-Marc Fortune, Chief Medical Information Officer at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, noted:

“Consultations now feel more face-to-face… like they would have happened in the GP surgery 20 years ago, before everybody had PCs on their desk.”

 

A Human-Centered Approach

Dragon Copilot isn’t just about technology—it’s about restoring the human connection in medicine. In a Microsoft-commissioned report, 40% of patients said they had experienced consultations where clinicians were too focused on their screens.

By automating routine tasks like referrals and documentation, clinicians can spend more time listening, engaging, and diagnosing. This shift not only improves patient satisfaction but also supports clinician retention and wellbeing.

Looking Ahead

As Dragon Copilot continues its rollout across Europe, healthcare organizations are exploring its use in outpatient, inpatient, and emergency care. The technology is already proving to be a vital tool in building a more resilient and compassionate healthcare system.

Jacob West, Managing Director of Healthcare & Life Sciences at Microsoft UK, summed it up:

“Dragon Copilot is transforming the healthcare landscape… freeing up valuable time for patient care and supporting clinician wellbeing.”