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Hospitals will use AI to check MRI scans for prostate cancer under plans to slash waits from weeks to just one day.
Artificial intelligence has been trained to spot signs of the disease within seconds, speeding up the diagnostic process and reducing pressure on staff.
If the software finds a suspected tumour, it will be sent to a radiologist for priority review and the patient will be offered a biopsy on the spot.
It means patients can be given the all-clear before bedtime or a diagnosis as soon as the next day - saving men from agonisingly long waits.
Britain's most senior cancer doctor said the rapid diagnosis pathway could be a ‘game changer’.
It comes as the Daily Mail is campaigning to end needless prostate cancer deaths and for a national prostate cancer screening programme, initially for high risk men.
The UK National Screening Committee, which advises the government on which screening programmes to offer, is currently considering recent developments around prostate cancer diagnosis and is due to report its findings later this year.
The AI tool will be trialled at 15 NHS hospitals in England, with a pilot set to begin at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust early next year.
If it proves successful it will be rolled out nationally, potentially benefiting thousands of men each year.
Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said: ‘We’re really excited by the potential of artificial intelligence to speed up cancer diagnosis, and we hope this trial of an AI-powered “one-day diagnostics” could be a game changer and help save men weeks of worry and uncertainty.
‘As with all cancers, speed is crucial – the quicker the diagnosis, the sooner treatment can begin and help give the best chance of treatment being successful for patients and their families.
‘Prostate cancer continues to have a devastating impact for tens of thousands of men and their loved ones every year in this country.
‘We are determined to see more patients diagnosed or given the all-clear quicker, and combining the latest technology with this new testing pathway will give clinicians the tools they need to provide patients with peace of mind or pin down a cancer diagnosis as soon as possible.’
Under current best practice guidelines, patients with suspected prostate cancer should receive an MRI and biopsy within a week of an urgent GP referral, but waits can be longer depending on the capacity of radiologists.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘Prostate cancer is a devastating disease impacting thousands of men every year – and what makes this already incredibly challenging situation worse for these men are long waits for test results, diagnosis and treatment – it’s needlessly distressing for them and their families.
‘By harnessing the power of technology we are revolutionising our NHS and tackling this, with AI able to deliver same-day prostate diagnoses, delivering better outcomes for patients and fast support for doctors.’
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in males and about one in eight men will have it in their lifetime, according to Prostate Cancer UK.
Some 58,218 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in England in 2024, up from 53,462 the year before, according to the National Prostate Cancer Audit (NPCA).
The new AI tool, Pi, has been developed by Lucida Medical and comes ahead of the Government’s National Cancer Plan which is expected to be published later this year.
Dr Oliver Hulson, a consultant radiologist who is leading the trial at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: ‘As clinicians, we are always looking at ways to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer to ensure our patients get the expert care they need as quickly as possible.
‘This latest innovation pilot aims to take that a step further.
‘The AI assisted MRI screening introduces a rapid diagnostic approach, so that we can fast-track those patients that may need to receive further investigations through MRI scans and a biopsy, to have them all in one day at the Leeds Cancer Centre.
‘We hope this can pave the way to mean faster treatment and better outcomes for our patients and their families.’
Lucy Davies, from Lucida Medical, said: ‘Through our partnership with Leeds Teaching Hospitals and NHS England, we aim to show that our technology Pi can help doctors rapidly identify men with prostate cancer.
‘This has the potential to enable a more efficient care pathway, supporting a “one stop shop” for diagnosis, ultimately leading to improved outcomes for patients and cost savings.’
Amy Rylance, assistant director of health improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: ‘The process of getting diagnosed in the NHS is safer and more accurate than it’s ever been, thanks to recent advances like MRI scans and targeted biopsies.
‘The AI tool could represent a further step change, saving men prolonged anxiety and the bother of hospital trips, while also increasing capacity for our hard-working NHS workforce.’