Hospital uses AI technology to detect lung cancer

A hospital in North Yorkshire has recently adopted advanced artificial intelligence technology to enhance the detection of lung cancer and other serious health conditions. The Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust announced that this innovative software is expected to significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of chest X-ray analysis. Consultant radiologists Dr. Daniel Fascia and Dr. Andrew Koo, who are both dedicated to their work, are optimistic about the impact of this technology. With the new AI system, all chest X-rays taken at the hospital are analyzed in less than 30 seconds. If the AI detects any abnormalities, these cases are prioritized for further examination by the medical staff. This means that doctors can identify serious health issues much earlier than they could before. The AI software is capable of detecting up to 124 potential findings on chest X-rays in under a minute, which streamlines the reporting process for the radiologists. Dr. Fascia expressed his enthusiasm, stating, 'This technology will greatly speed up the time it takes for clinicians across our trusts to accurately report and diagnose each X-ray, helping us to reduce historical backlogs in our organizations, spanning back to the COVID-19 pandemic. ' The Harrogate trust has been utilizing AI to identify trauma-related injuries in X-rays, such as fractures and dislocations, since July 2023. This makes it one of six radiology departments in Yorkshire to implement this cutting-edge software. The funding for this technology has been secured through NHS England's AI Diagnostics Fund, which will provide £21 million to support 11 imaging networks across 64 NHS trusts in England. This funding aims to assist in the early detection of lung cancer, which is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Peter Kyle, the UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating that the rollout of the AI tool could 'save lives up and down the country. ' He shared his personal connection to the issue, having lost his parents to cancer, and highlighted the need for medical innovation to prevent such tragedies from affecting families.