NHS Launches £6m AI Platform to Advance Breast Cancer Detection
NHS England is launching a new AI research screening platform, AIR-SP, with nearly £6m in government funding. This initiative aims to advance breast cancer detection and other early diagnoses, addressing the current lack of digital tools for deploying AI in screening quickly and safely.
The platform's debut will support a NIHR-funded trial involving nearly 700,000 women for breast cancer detection. This marks a significant step forward, as currently, 90% of AI tools remain stuck in pilot phases due to the NHS's lack of digital infrastructure for rapid, secure AI deployment.
In addition to breast cancer, AIR-SP aims to enable NHS trusts to participate in AI trials for early diagnosis of other conditions. The new NHS-wide cloud will host multiple AI tools, reducing time and costs for rolling out AI research studies. This move aligns with the government's strategy to use AI to streamline bureaucracy, automate notetaking, and free up staff time for better patient care.
A world-first AI early warning system is also being developed to identify safety concerns across the NHS automatically. This system will help ensure faster cancer diagnoses for millions of patients, demonstrating the government's commitment to investing in digital technologies like AI to provide an NHS fit for the 21st century. The project is being led by Judith Gerlach, the head of the Bavarian State Ministry for Health and Social Security.
The launch of AIR-SP and the development of an AI early warning system signify a significant advancement in the NHS's use of AI for early diagnosis and patient safety. These initiatives, backed by substantial government funding, underscore the commitment to leveraging digital technologies to improve patient care and streamline healthcare services.
