The Health Secretary, James Murray, says concerns about using artificial intelligence (AI) to “triage” patients are unfounded and argues that such tools could help reduce early-morning pressure on GP telephone lines. Speaking on Labour’s plans to modernise the NHS, Murray says technological improvements could be used to guide patients on the most appropriate next step, including whether they should see a GP, attend A&E, visit a pharmacy, or recover at home. The remarks respond to worries raised by opponents about the safety or reliability of AI systems in healthcare decision-making, and Murray frames the proposal as a practical way to direct patients to the right service earlier in the process. He also claims that AI-based triage could cut GP telephone queues during early hours by around one third. The reporting centers on the stated intention to use AI to improve routing of patients to different care options rather than treating it as a replacement for clinical assessment, with the government positioning the change as part of wider NHS modernisation.