Heidi unveils wearable AI microphone for NHS clinicians

Heidi has launched a wearable microphone for clinicians in the UK, marking its first move from software into hardware. The device is positioned as an alternative to the informal use of personal smartphones to record consultations.

Called Heidi Remote, the product is designed for audio capture in NHS and other care settings and feeds recordings into the company's AI scribe for clinical note-taking. The launch targets a common workaround in which clinicians use consumer apps and personal devices in the consultation room, which can complicate data protection, information governance and security.

Heidi says it designed the wearable for day-to-day constraints in clinics and hospitals, including background noise and variable connectivity. The aim is to provide a governed entry point for clinical audio without relying on consumer cloud services tied to personal phones.

Shift from BYOD

The UK launch comes as NHS organisations review how staff use their own devices at work. Updated NHS England guidance has sharpened the focus on bring-your-own-device practices, and vendors are marketing alternatives that separate personal and clinical technology.

Many consultation rooms still rely on ageing desktop terminals and shared workstations. In those environments, AI-driven documentation often runs on smartphones placed on desks or laptops positioned between clinician and patient. That arrangement can create workflow issues, including battery life, connectivity and the practicalities of managing a device alongside an examination.

Heidi Remote is pitched as a wearable that clips to clinical attire. It is intended to reduce the need to position a phone during a consultation and limit reliance on personal devices in patient-facing settings.

Hardware layer

Heidi's core product is an AI scribe that generates clinical notes from recorded consultations. The company says its tools are used in more than 2.5 million patient interactions each week across emergency departments, general practice and specialist clinics, and have supported more than 115 million sessions in 18 months.

The launch reflects a broader push by clinical AI suppliers to move beyond software and address the "last metre" problems in the consultation room. Audio quality remains a key constraint for scribing tools, particularly in busy settings where interruptions and background noise can affect transcription accuracy and the structure of notes.

Hospitals are also challenging physical environments for devices. Noise levels in emergency departments can exceed 100 dB at peak, according to figures cited by Heidi. Equipment is also cleaned frequently with disinfectants and handled constantly across long shifts.

Heidi says its wearable is designed for frequent cleaning and uses encryption for stored data. It can also capture consultations without Wi‑Fi and sync recordings when connectivity returns.

Product details

Heidi says Heidi Remote weighs 21g and offers up to 14 hours of battery life. It is a dedicated microphone worn on the clinician, which the company says provides more consistent capture than a phone placed on a desk.

The company also links the hardware to clinician experience, saying the wearable reduces the need to manage phone placement or a laptop during a consultation, lowering cognitive load.

Pricing was not disclosed, but Heidi says the product is priced for individual clinicians and practices of different sizes.

Wider platform

The hardware launch follows recent additions to the Heidi product line. Heidi Evidence surfaces medical research at the point of care, while Heidi Comms manages patient communications across calls, bookings, reminders and follow-ups.

Heidi describes the products as part of an "AI Care Partner" platform focused on documentation, evidence and communications. The company says it operates in 190 countries and supports 110 languages.

Heidi was founded in Melbourne and says it has raised USD $96.6 million from investors including Point72 Private Investments, Blackbird, Headline, Phoenix Court's growth fund Latitude, Possible Ventures and Archangel.

Security and compliance remain central buying criteria for clinical AI tools in the UK, particularly where audio is recorded in a consultation. Heidi says it aligns with standards including the NHS, HIPAA, GDPR and Australian Privacy Principles, and holds SOC2 and ISO27001 certifications.

Dr Thomas Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Heidi, said the day-to-day realities of clinical work shaped the product.

"AI scribing has transformed how clinicians manage documentation, but the weakest link has always been the tool in the room. A phone propped on a desk, a laptop left open, a dropped connection in a rural clinic. These aren't edge cases; they're daily realities for thousands of clinicians. Heidi Remote closes that gap. It's a purpose-built tool that fits into the way clinicians already work, so the technology matches the standard of care they're trying to deliver," said Dr Thomas Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Heidi.

Heidi plans to sell Heidi Remote in the UK alongside its existing AI scribe and related products, with availability varying by market and local requirements.