AI to be rolled out more widely across the NHS

Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to be rolled out more widely across the NHS in a bid to diagnose and treat patients faster.

NHS staff will be given the latest AI technology as part of a new £21 million fund announced by the Health and Social Care Secretary aimed at accelerating the deployment of the most promising AI imaging and decision support tools to detect conditions such as cancers, strokes and heart conditions.

The Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, has committed to rolling out AI stroke-diagnosis technology to all the stroke networks by the end of 2023, up from 86 per cent today.

“Artificial intelligence is already transforming the way we deliver healthcare and AI tools are already making a significant impact across the NHS in diagnosing conditions earlier, meaning people can be treated more quickly,” Barclay said in a statement.

“As we celebrate the NHS’s 75th birthday and look ahead to the future, I’m focused on adopting the latest cutting-edge technology across our health and care system to ensure we can continue to deliver the best care for our patients and cut waiting times, which is one of the government’s five priorities.”

This AI Diagnostic Fund will include the use of AI tools to analyse chest X-Rays, the most common tool used to diagnose lung cancer – which is the leading cause of cancer death in the UK.

With over 600,000 chest X-rays performed each month in England, the deployment of diagnostic AI tools to more NHS trusts is hoped to support clinicians to diagnose cancer patients earlier.

In the UK, one in 15 women will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime. However, if diagnosed at an early stage, the cancer is more likely to be treated successfully.

“At a time when diagnostic services are under strain, it is critical that we embrace innovation that could boost capacity – and so we welcome the Government’s announcement,” said Dr Katharine Halliday, president of the Royal College of Radiologists.

“All doctors want to give patients the best possible care. This starts with a timely diagnosis, and crucially, catching disease at the earliest point.

“There is huge promise in AI, which could save clinicians time by maximising our efficiency, supporting our decision-making and helping identify and prioritise the most urgent cases,” she added.

“Together with a highly trained and expert radiologist workforce, AI will undoubtedly play a significant part in the future of diagnostics.”

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “The NHS is already harnessing the benefits of AI across the country in helping to catch and treat major diseases earlier, as well as better managing waiting lists so patients can be seen quicker.

“As we approach our milestone 75th birthday, this is another example of how NHS is continuing its proud history of adopting the latest proven technology to deliver better care for patients, and better value for taxpayers.”

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Chloe Smith, said: “Improving diagnosis and speeding up treatments for patients through AI is a game-changer.

“The application of AI across the NHS is supported by our balanced regulatory approach and has the potential to be truly transformative, both for patients and our unrivalled health and social care workforce both now and in the decades to come.”

Dr Deb Lowe, national clinical director for Stroke Medicine, NHS England, added: “The use of AI decision support software in the initial stages of stroke care means patients get interventions quicker, reducing the likelihood of disability and saving the brains.”

The £21 million funding will be open for bids for any AI diagnostic tool that trusts want to deploy, but the government says it will have to represent value for money for the funding to be approved.