Patients across Greater Manchester are now getting faster lung cancer diagnoses thanks to new NHS artificial intelligence (AI) technology. This breakthrough could help save thousands of lives.
Backed by the government’s 10-Year Health Plan and AI Diagnostic Fund, the system now helps clinicians at Wythenshawe Hospital and other sites across Greater Manchester. It analyses over 40,000 chest X-rays every month, helping doctors detect potential signs of lung cancer sooner.
How AI Is Speeding Up Diagnosis
The AI tool, developed by Annalise.AI, flags suspicious scans within seconds. Doctors can then prioritise patients who may have cancer and begin investigations or treatment more quickly.
Early results are encouraging. The technology has already helped avoid up to 1,400 CT scans and 1,000 urgent two-week-wait referrals. This ensures patients receive the right care faster and reduces unnecessary tests for those at lower risk.
In addition, Wythenshawe Hospital is one of the first in Europe to use the Ion robotic bronchoscopy system. This groundbreaking tool helps doctors reach deep into the lungs, take accurate biopsies earlier, and give patients answers sooner. In many cases, this could shorten the diagnostic process by months.
Expert Reactions
Paula Chadwick, Chief Executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, welcomed the progress:
“This is an exciting advancement in the diagnosis of lung cancer.
Waiting for results can be agonising, and the sooner someone is diagnosed and begins treatment, the better their outcome — both physically and mentally.
AI could be a game-changer in the early detection of lung cancer — and in saving lives.”
Each year, about 48,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with lung cancer, and 35,000 die from it. In Greater Manchester, rates are 24% higher than the national average — a gap this technology could help to close.
Detecting lung cancer early is vital. People diagnosed at the earliest stage are nearly 20 times more likely to live five years or longer than those diagnosed later.
Building a Smarter NHS
The government’s Plan for Change aims to harness technology like this to create a more efficient, digital-first NHS. AI is already helping to streamline admin tasks
Patients across Greater Manchester are now receiving faster lung cancer diagnoses thanks to new artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the NHS — a breakthrough that could save thousands of lives.
Backed by the government’s 10-Year Health Plan and AI Diagnostic Fund, the system is already helping clinicians at Wythenshawe Hospital and other sites analyse more than 40,000 chest X-rays every month.
Developed by Annalise.AI, the tool flags suspicious scans within seconds. This helps doctors prioritise patients who may have cancer and begin investigations or treatment sooner.
Early results are promising. The technology has helped avoid up to 1,400 CT scans and 1,000 urgent referrals, ensuring the right patients get the right care faster. For those at risk, it also means fewer unnecessary tests and less time spent waiting in worry.
Wythenshawe Hospital has also become one of the first sites in Europe to adopt the Ion robotic bronchoscopy system – a groundbreaking tool that helps doctors access the deepest parts of the lungs. This allows for earlier, more accurate biopsies and gives patients answers sooner, potentially shaving months off the diagnostic process.
Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation Chief Executive, Paula Chadwick, welcomed the development:
“This is an exciting advancement in the diagnosis of lung cancer.
“Waiting for results can be agonising, and the sooner someone is diagnosed and begins treatment, the better their outcome – both physically and mentally.
“AI could be a game-changer in the early detection of lung cancer — and in saving lives.”
Each year, about 48,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with lung cancer and 35,000 die from it. In Greater Manchester, rates are 24% higher than the national average — a gap this technology could help close.
Detecting lung cancer early is critical. When diagnosed at its earliest stage, people are nearly 20 times more likely to survive for five years or more than those diagnosed later.
The government’s wider Plan for Change aims to harness technology like this to build a more efficient, digital-first NHS. That includes using AI to streamline admin, free up clinical time, and even develop early warning systems for patient safety.
Another new platform, Cancer 360, is being rolled out to bring together diagnostic data into one place, allowing clinicians to better coordinate care and prioritise the most urgent cases — potentially benefitting millions of cancer patients over the next decade.
Dr Rhidian Bramley, AI Lead at Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, and Consultant Radiologist at The Christie, said:
“We are excited to have launched this innovative technology across Greater Manchester to support patient care.
This collaboration is a major step in understanding how AI can improve healthcare in the UK and deliver better outcomes for people with lung cancer.
It helps streamline the patient journey by speeding up diagnosis, improving the overall experience, and allowing treatment to start sooner — all of which lead to better outcomes.”
At Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, we have always championed the importance of early detection. It saves lives. That’s why we back innovative, evidence-based technology that helps diagnose lung cancer faster and more accurately — so people get the right care at the right time.