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Understanding your medical notes

Translate a medical report into plain English

A scan report, a test result, a specialist's summary — you have the document in front of you, and it might as well be in another language. Paste your medical report into Patiently AI to turn difficult medical language into a clearer explanation you can understand.

Written by Nick Lamb, PhD, medical writer MHRA-registered Class I medical device Methods validated in a peer-reviewed study Last reviewed 25 July 2026

Get your report translated now

Paste the report — or upload a photo, PDF or Word file — and Patiently AI rewrites it in clear, everyday language, with suggested questions for your next appointment. Free, no account, and identifying details are removed on your device first.

Explain my medical report → Your text isn't stored. Available on web, iOS & Android.

What counts as a "medical report"?

Patiently AI works with any document written in clinical language. People most often paste in:

What the translation covers

What it won't add: verdicts. If your report doesn't say a finding is normal or abnormal, the translation won't either — it faithfully explains what's written, keeping exact medication names, doses, values and timeframes, and never introduces numbers that aren't in your document.

How it works

  1. Paste or upload the report — text, photo, PDF or Word file.
  2. Choose the explanation you need — reading level (child, teen, adult or carer), tone, length, and one of 17 languages.
  3. Read the plain-language version and the suggested questions for your healthcare professional.

See the difference

Original report wording

"There is mild degenerative change at L4–L5 without significant canal stenosis."

Plain-English version

"There are mild signs of wear in the lower back. The report does not describe major narrowing around the spinal canal."

Illustrative example only — not based on a real patient.

Why medical reports are written this way

Most reports are written by one specialist for another — a radiologist reporting to the doctor who requested the scan, a pathologist reporting to a surgeon. The language is precise, compressed and full of conventions ("unremarkable", "no acute findings", "correlate clinically") that carry specific meaning between professionals. Now that patients routinely receive copies through online records and patient portals, the same wording lands on readers it was never designed for. Translating it isn't dumbing it down — it's finishing the job of communication.

Reading a report right now?

Don't spend an evening searching term by term. Paste the whole report into Patiently AI and get one coherent explanation — plus the questions worth asking about it.

Translate my report → Paste, upload, photograph or dictate your report.

Questions you may want to ask about your report

These are prompts for a conversation with your healthcare professional — Patiently AI drafts a personalised set from your own report.

Frequently asked questions

How do I translate a medical report into plain English?

Paste the report text into Patiently AI — or upload a photo, PDF or Word file — choose the reading level and tone you'd like, and read the plain-English version. It's free on the web and needs no account.

What types of medical report does it work with?

Any report written in medical language: radiology reports (MRI, CT, X-ray, ultrasound), blood test results, pathology and biopsy reports, cardiology reports like ECGs and echocardiograms, endoscopy reports, and clinic or hospital letters.

Will it tell me if my report is normal?

Only if your report itself says so. Patiently AI translates the language that's actually in your document — it doesn't add its own judgement about whether findings are normal, serious or urgent, and it doesn't diagnose. Those questions are for your healthcare team, who know your history.

Is it safe to paste my medical report into an AI tool?

Patiently AI removes identifying details — names, NHS numbers, dates of birth, addresses, contact details — on your device before any text is sent for processing, and your text isn't stored. You can review what's been removed before anything leaves your browser.

Can I upload a photo or PDF of my report?

Yes. You can paste text, upload a PDF or Word file, photograph a paper report, or dictate. Patiently AI reads the document and produces the plain-English explanation the same way.

Important: Patiently AI explains the language in medical documents. It does not diagnose conditions, assess urgency or replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional, and it won't describe a result as normal or abnormal unless your document says so. Contact your healthcare team if you have questions about your results or treatment.