Alexion and Aide Health have introduced an AI-driven application that will be free for two years to people living with rare conditions in the United Kingdom.
Free AI tool aims to simplify complex care
The service, called Mirror, captures medical appointments and turns them into easy-to-read summaries of what was discussed and what happens next. It is offered at no cost through a partnership between the pharmaceutical company and the digital-health firm.
Designed to help patients retain and act on information from multiple specialists, the tool lets users revisit discussion points, easing anxiety linked to fragmented care. Summaries can be shared with relatives, caregivers or other clinicians, reducing the need to repeat details.
More than 3.5 million people in the UK are affected by rare illnesses, often enduring lengthy diagnostic pathways and frequent appointments across several specialties. The volume of unfamiliar terminology, combined with fatigue and emotional stress, can make it hard to absorb what is said and to understand next steps.
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Family members frequently assist in tracking health data. A RareCare survey found that 47% of respondents felt their providers did not share information effectively, while 40% rated collaboration between doctors and services as poor or very very poor.
“People managing a rare disease can face a succession of appointments involving different specialists, unfamiliar terminology and complex decisions,” said Deborah Richards, vice-president and general manager for the UK and Ireland at Alexion. “Our partnership with Aide Health will give them and their families a practical way to capture important information, revisit it in their own time and feel better prepared for conversations about their care.”
Studies show that between 40% and 80% of medical details are forgotten immediately after a visit. Recall worsens as the amount of information grows, and nearly half of the retained data may be inaccurate.
Mirror does not diagnose conditions, recommend treatments, or replace professional medical advice. It is positioned solely as a record-keeping aid for patients.
Users can choose when to capture a consultation, and the app helps guide the patient in how to inform their clinician they are using it. Mirror is a Class I Medical Device registered with the UK regulator, the MHRA, and is transparent about its use of AI, with safety, accuracy and data protection prioritised throughout its design.
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Personal data is stored securely and meets the highest standards of privacy and data protection. The app’s performance is regularly monitored and reviewed to ensure it continues to work safely, effectively and fairly.
Ian Wharton, founder and chief executive of Aide Health, noted that Mirror launched a year ago and has received strong feedback from users. Wharton said, “One in four people wait at least five years for a rare condition diagnosis. They see GPs, consultants, specialist nurses and therapists across different departments. Mirror acts as the patient’s consistent record, helping make this complexity more manageable,”
Mirror is available through the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Alignment with national rare-disease strategy
The initiative supports the UK Rare Diseases Framework’s priority of better care coordination and echoes the England Rare Diseases Action Plan’s call for digital tools that give patients easier access to information and support in managing their health.
