Stepping Hill Hospital to deploy new AI technology to help detect lung cancer

Stepping Hill Hospital is among those that will begin using an new AI (artificial intelligence) technology to help doctors to detect diseases, including lung cancer, quicker.

The new technology is being rolled out at seven NHS Trusts across Greater Manchester over the next few months as part of a partnership between Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, Greater Manchester Imaging Network and global health tech firm Annalise.ai. It will see an AI-powered chest X-ray decision-support system used to read chest X-ray to detect up to 124 findings on chest radiographs – which will help healthcare professionals spot signs of lung cancer and other illnesses quicker.

The technology has now gone live at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust with other Trusts to follow soon.

When the Annalise.ai chest X-ray solution identifies potential lung cancer cases, the information is relayed to the reporting medical provider in under a minute. This allows healthcare professionals to prioritise the review of the chest x-rays identified as suspicious, helping to detect (or rule out) cancer more quickly. The tool will enhance efficiency and care quality within lung cancer detection in Stockport and other areas of Greater Manchester.

Integrating the Annalise.ai solution through Sectra Imaging – a leading imaging IT provider to health systems worldwide – across all seven Trusts within the Greater Manchester Imaging Network, will allow a comprehensive evaluation of this technology across the region, which has a population of 2.8 million people. Funding for the technology has come from the Artificial Intelligence Diagnostics Fund (AIDF).

The project forms part of a wider programme of work being led by the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, with the aim of improving cancer outcomes and experiences for the population of Greater Manchester, where lung cancer rates sit at 24% above the national average and life expectancy is lower than in England as a whole.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

“Breakthroughs like this AI tool will help to savelivesacross the country, speeding up diagnosis so that doctors can provide the best possible treatments to patients sooner.

“As part of our 10 Year Health Plan, I am determined that we embrace this kind of innovation and shift the health service from analogue to digital, so more patients can get their lives back.”

Andrew Loughney, Medical Director for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“This new technology is a fantastic new step forward in the earlier detection of lung cancer, which we believe will mean better results for patients, and ultimately saving lives.

“We are very proud that Stockport is one of the first sites to use this technology, and look forward to seeing the results.”

Andy Burnham as Mayor of Greater Manchester and co-chair, Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership:

“We know we have higher rates of lung cancer in Greater Manchester than elsewhere in the country, so I’m delighted to see this new partnership which we hope will help to get treatment to people sooner. I’m glad to see Greater Manchester leading the way in this area.”

Annalise.ai was also selected as the preferred provider by five additional imaging networks across NHS England through the AIDF, meaning that Annalise.ai’s chest X-ray solution will be used to perform 2.5 million chest X-rays each year – more than one third of all chest X-rays performed across the country.