What AI tells people
about their health

On 27 of the 179 questions where the NHS says call 999, go to A&E or get help the same day, at least one tool told people something less urgent.

In November 2026, 115 health charities and professional bodies signed an open letter to the UK’s AI minister asking for safer AI health answers, and for a way to monitor them. Here is each thing they asked for, and what this month’s answers showed.

AI OverviewsAI ModeChatGPT

Listed the NHS or an accredited source first “prioritise and reference verified NHS and UK-based accredited health information sources” Of answers that showed sources. Cited one anywhere: 76%. 41% of 1,005 76% of 1,042 75% of 613 Led with the right place “effective signposting to NHS services” Another 195 named it, but not up front. 60% of 240 63% of 246 69% of 251 Named a UK charity, where a specialist one exists “specialist support organisations” 37% of 708 30% of 747 23% of 765 Showed a warning that AI answers may include mistakes “appropriate warnings where health information is AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies” Read from the Google screenshots. ChatGPT is collected as text, so its page isn’t seen. 34% of 1,001 88% of 1,008 – not seen Gave less urgent advice than the NHS “the impact of AI-generated health information on patient safety” On 179 questions where the NHS says call 999, go to A&E or get help the same day. Asked three times, 7 of these questions got less urgent advice from the same tool every time. 12% 20 of 170 6% 11 of 176 1% 1 of 179 Got screening and vaccine facts right Closest measure to “public health outcomes” 98% of 53 100% of 57 98% of 60 Named 999, 111, A&E or the NHS when asked in Polish “health inequalities” Urgent questions, asked twice on 13 November. Translations not yet checked by a native speaker. 71% vs 67% in English 24% vs 100% in English 92% vs 96% in English

Where answers were most often less urgent or different from the NHS, by topic (the letter asks for guidance on “high-risk health topics”): Ear, nose and throat 13%, Kidney 11%, Guts and bladder 8%.

The problems in PIF’s 2025 report and The Eve Appeal’s 2026 test, asked again this month.

Pancreatic Cancer UKTwo of six answers now back extra fat and calories; the rest still steer people towards lean or low-fat food. Partly fixed Melanoma FocusChatGPT now cites the UK guidelines; AI Overviews still lean on US sources and don’t cite them. Partly fixed B British Liver Trust (now Liver UK)All three add some context now, but none gives the full picture the charity asked for. Still there MindChatGPT and AI Mode now point to UK support; AI Overviews still lean on Reddit and YouTube. Partly fixed