An Oxford-based health tech start-up has unveiled the country’s first AI-powered ‘medical memory’ app designed entirely for patients, promising to end the common problem of forgetting what was said in medical appointments.
The app, Mirror, created by Aide Health, discreetly listens during any healthcare consultation and generates a clear, plain-English summary that patients can revisit at any time. Whether at a GP surgery, hospital, pharmacy, or optician, the app ensures that important medical advice is never lost the moment a patient leaves the room.
The need for such innovation is pressing. Research suggests that up to 80 per cent of medical advice is forgotten immediately after appointments, and nearly half of what’s remembered is inaccurate. This confusion can lead to missed medications, unclear instructions, and poorer health outcomes—issues that cost the NHS an estimated £1 billion each year.
“Imagine leaving any appointment with a clear, personalised summary that makes you feel more in control of your health,” said Ian Wharton, Founder and CEO of Aide Health. “That’s why we designed Mirror.”
Unlike clinician-focused ‘medical scribe’ technologies, Mirror is built purely for the patient. Users can access their notes at any time, share appointment summaries with family or caregivers, and ask Mirror follow-up questions based solely on what was said—helping to improve understanding and adherence to treatment.
Wharton was inspired to create the app after supporting his father, who has early-stage Alzheimer’s, during a hospital stay following a fall and broken hip. “The volume and complexity of medical information given to him at the bedside, only days after trauma while in an unfamiliar environment, meant little, if anything, was remembered,” he said. “No patient or family member should experience that worry or sense of isolation with the technology we have available to us today.”
Privacy is a central feature of Mirror’s design. Audio recordings are used only to create summaries and are deleted immediately afterwards. Patients are reminded that AI can make mistakes and are encouraged to confirm any uncertainties with their healthcare professional.
Aide Health’s digital tools are already used across NHS England to support patients with asthma, type 2 diabetes, COPD, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. The company has received innovation backing from the National Institute of Health and Care Research and Innovate UK.
One early user, Janette Palfrey, said the app transformed her experience: “It was brilliant having something on my phone, ready in my pocket when I needed it… It honestly felt like having support in my pocket.”
