This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly7gx2gx3eo
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Major breast cancer screening AI trial to begin | Major breast cancer screening AI trial to begin |
| (7 days later) | |
| Nearly 700,000 women are to be recruited to take part in an NHS artificial intelligence (AI) breast cancer screening trial across the UK. | Nearly 700,000 women are to be recruited to take part in an NHS artificial intelligence (AI) breast cancer screening trial across the UK. |
| Five different AI platforms will be tested across 30 sites from April to see if the technology can speed up diagnosis as well as free up radiologists. | Five different AI platforms will be tested across 30 sites from April to see if the technology can speed up diagnosis as well as free up radiologists. |
| It comes as the government launches a call for evidence to help it shape its national cancer plan, which is due to be launched later this year. | It comes as the government launches a call for evidence to help it shape its national cancer plan, which is due to be launched later this year. |
| AI is already being tested in the NHS in a variety of ways, including helping to deliver cancer treatment, managing waiting lists and checking cancer scans. However, this is the biggest trial yet covering breast cancer. | AI is already being tested in the NHS in a variety of ways, including helping to deliver cancer treatment, managing waiting lists and checking cancer scans. However, this is the biggest trial yet covering breast cancer. |
| Women who are already booked in for routine NHS screenings will be invited to take part in the £11m Early Detection using Information Technology in Health (Edith) trial. | Women who are already booked in for routine NHS screenings will be invited to take part in the £11m Early Detection using Information Technology in Health (Edith) trial. |
| Screening is offered to those between the ages of 50 and 53 and then every three years until they turn 71. | Screening is offered to those between the ages of 50 and 53 and then every three years until they turn 71. |
| At the appointments, X-rays known as mammograms are taken to look for cancers that are too small to see or feel. | At the appointments, X-rays known as mammograms are taken to look for cancers that are too small to see or feel. |
| Step forward | Step forward |
| Currently, two radiologists are required to review the images from each screening to ensure accuracy. | Currently, two radiologists are required to review the images from each screening to ensure accuracy. |
| However, it is hoped the AI being trialled will enable one of the speciality doctors to complete the process, freeing up radiologists to see more patients and, in turn, cut waiting lists. | However, it is hoped the AI being trialled will enable one of the speciality doctors to complete the process, freeing up radiologists to see more patients and, in turn, cut waiting lists. |
| More than two million mammograms a year are carried out under the screening programme, so it could have a major impact on the workload of radiologists. | More than two million mammograms a year are carried out under the screening programme, so it could have a major impact on the workload of radiologists. |
| Department of Health and Social Care chief scientific adviser Prof Lucy Chappell said the study could lead to a "significant step forward". | Department of Health and Social Care chief scientific adviser Prof Lucy Chappell said the study could lead to a "significant step forward". |
| Health Secretary Wes Streeting said this should just be the start of a wider improvement in cancer care. | Health Secretary Wes Streeting said this should just be the start of a wider improvement in cancer care. |
| He said "urgent action" was needed given cancer survival here was lagging behind other countries, promising to publish a dedicated national cancer plan to "unleash Britain's potential as a world leader in saving lives from this deadly disease". | He said "urgent action" was needed given cancer survival here was lagging behind other countries, promising to publish a dedicated national cancer plan to "unleash Britain's potential as a world leader in saving lives from this deadly disease". |
| As part of that, the government has launched a call for evidence, urging patients, staff and experts to contribute ideas on the Change NHS website. | |
| However, the Royal College of Radiologists president Dr Katharine Halliday said while AI had "immense potential", the NHS was still 30% short of the radiologists it needed. | However, the Royal College of Radiologists president Dr Katharine Halliday said while AI had "immense potential", the NHS was still 30% short of the radiologists it needed. |
| "This study will take time to yield results. The need to build radiology capacity remains urgent," she added. | "This study will take time to yield results. The need to build radiology capacity remains urgent," she added. |