In a major step towards improving breast cancer detection, nearly 700,000 women across the UK will participate in a groundbreaking NHS artificial intelligence (AI) screening trial. The study, set to begin in April, will test five different AI platforms at 30 sites to determine if the technology can speed up diagnosis and alleviate pressure on radiologists.
This initiative coincides with the government’s call for evidence to shape its upcoming national cancer plan, which is expected later this year. AI is already in use within the NHS for various purposes, such as cancer treatment, managing waiting lists, and analysing scans. However, this will be the most extensive AI trial targeting breast cancer to date.
Women scheduled for routine NHS screenings will be invited to take part in the £11 million Early Detection using Information Technology in Health (Edith) trial. Currently, NHS screening is available to women aged 50 to 53, with further screenings every three years until they turn 71. Mammograms are taken to identify cancers too small to detect by touch or sight.
At present, two radiologists must review each mammogram for accuracy. It is hoped that AI will allow one radiologist to handle the process, freeing up specialists to see more patients and reduce waiting lists. With over two million mammograms conducted annually, this innovation could significantly impact radiologists’ workload.
Professor Lucy Chappell, the Department of Health’s chief scientific adviser, described the study as a potential “significant step forward.” Health Secretary Wes Streeting emphasised the urgent need for action, highlighting that cancer survival rates in the UK lag behind other countries. He pledged to publish a national cancer plan aimed at making Britain a leader in saving lives from the disease.
The government is calling on patients, staff, and experts to contribute their views on the Change NHS website. However, Dr Katharine Halliday, president of the Royal College of Radiologists, warned that while AI holds great potential, the NHS still faces a 30% shortage of radiologists. “This study will take time to yield results. The need to build radiology capacity remains urgent,” she stressed.
This trial marks a crucial moment in the evolution of breast cancer screening, offering hope for faster diagnoses and improved patient care across the UK.
