We’re part of the North East London Cancer Alliance, which is leading an initiative to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into speeding up cancer diagnosis. This project aims to reduce wait times for chest x-ray results from three weeks to just three days for scans with significant findings.

It uses an AI tool to help radiologists and reporting radiographers prioritise urgent cases, enhance decision-making, and streamline the patient journey.

It’s a collaboration between our Trust, along with Barts Health NHS Trust and Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Across north east London, we’re facing significant workforce challenges and a sharp rise in demand for chest x-rays. In 2017, 139,080 chest x-rays were performed, by 2022, that number had surged to 270,000 - a 94% increase in just five years. In addition, the UK is facing a 29% shortfall in radiologists.

Using AI-driven software will help tackle these issues by improving decision-making and prioritising urgent cases, helping to reduce delays.

By prioritising urgent cases and quickly sorting through normal ones (x-rays which find nothing requiring medical intervention), the AI system reduces delays in diagnosing critical conditions like lung cancer. This means patients can receive faster treatment when needed, improving their outcomes by ensuring timely care. For those without cancer, the system provides quicker reassurance, giving them peace of mind sooner.

The technology is used to assist, not replace, the specialist teams working on respiratory conditions (diseases of the lung and airways).

Oliver Hawkins, Senior Project Manager for North East London Cancer Alliance, said:

This provides patients with faster access to crucial diagnostic tests and improves overall healthcare delivery.

Read more on the cancer alliance website.