NHS Trusts can apply to the AI Diagnostic Fund to speed up the deployment of AI imaging and decision support tools to help diagnose patients more quickly for conditions including cancers, strokes and heart conditions.
The Health and Social Care secretary has also committed to rolling out AI stroke-diagnosis technology to all stroke networks by the end of 2023, helping patients suffering from a stroke get treated faster. The ring-fenced funding was announced by Health and Social Care secretary, Steve Barclay.
This AI Diagnostic Fund will include the use of AI tools to analyse chest X-Rays. With over 600,000 chest X-rays performed each month in England, the deployment of diagnostic AI tools to more NHS Trusts will support clinicians to diagnose cancer patients earlier, improving patient outcomes.
The use of AI in the NHS is already having a positive impact on outcomes for patients, with AI in some cases halving the time for stroke patients to get the treatment they need by helping doctors diagnose stroke faster, which has been shown to triple the chance of patients living independently after a stroke.
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In a statement, Dr Katharine Halliday, president of the Royal College of Radiologists said: “At a time when diagnostic services are under strain, it is critical that we embrace innovation that could boost capacity – and so we welcome the government’s announcement of a £21m fund to purchase and deploy AI diagnostic tools.
“All doctors want to give patients the best possible care. This starts with a timely diagnosis, and crucially, catching disease at the earliest point. There is huge promise in AI, which could save clinicians time by maximising our efficiency, supporting our decision-making and helping identify and prioritise the most urgent cases.”
The government also recently announced a new AI & Digital Regulation Service to help NHS staff find the right information and guidance for deploying AI devices.
Commenting on the announcement, Dr Jay Verma, CEO of Data Care Solutions and President Elect of the General Practice within Primary Care section of the Royal Society of Medicine and said: "Whilst any investment opportunity to improve patient outcomes by exploring the potential of AI is welcome, it is frustrating that this is only available to NHS Trusts.
"The opportunities in improving health outcomes for patients and a better work-life balance for staff using AI in primary care is massive - and proven.
"Using AI, we've shown that two in three GP appointments could have been held with an alternative clinician. Imagine the potential if that was scaled across England, with 66 per cent more GP appointments available thanks to AI and machine learning?”
Dr Verma continued: "Prevention is always better than cure; whether that's helping patients manage conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, helping social care workers get remote feedback on a patient's blood pressure or identifying undiagnosed patients who may have a health condition which needs regular management.
"But it could also help stem the flow of workers leaving primary care for other industries or other countries by allowing them a more organised, streamlined environment in which to work.
"Realistically, £21m is a drop in the ocean compared to the NHS budget which is roughly the size of the entire GDP of Greece. If they want to invest well, they need to put these opportunities into primary care. It might not sound as exciting, but it could save lives."
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