Rishi Sunak (Image: Getty)
Rishi Sunak has hailed a ￡15 million "game-changing" AI funding boost for radiotherapy departments in England that will help in the fight against cancer.
The Prime Minister said the much-needed investment will help drive down waiting times and modernise the NHS.
He said the state-of-the-art technology locates cancer cells 2.5 times quicker than doctors alone, speeding up the treatment of patients.
It comes as a welcome boost to the Daily Express crusade for more funding for radiotherapy.
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The new technology works by automatically reviewing a CT or MRI scan, helping doctors quickly distinguish between cancerous cells and healthy organs and to prevent healthy organs from being damaged during radiation treatment.
Trained health workers will review any report before administering any treatment – helping tens of thousands of cancer patients each year get faster treatment.
Mr Sunak said: “We need to ensure the NHS is a world leader in medical innovation, which is why we have announced funding to roll out game-changing AI radiotherapy departments in England.
“The benefits are clear, the technology can locate cancer cells two-and-a-half times quicker than doctors alone.
“But we won’t stop there, we recognise the huge potential and that’s why the productivity plan announced in the spring budget will modernise the NHS and ensure the patients get the care that they deserve.”
He added: “AI-powered medical advances – like in radiotherapy – are evidence of this and we must take advantage of them.
“That’s why we are pumping ￡15.5 million into the NHS so it can be rolled out across England – to help cut waiting lists and make the UK the number one place for AI innovation.”
Victoria Atkins (Image: Getty)
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Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said: “This is an exciting breakthrough in our work to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment, and AI is helping to make our healthcare system faster, simpler and fairer.
“Thanks to such innovation, as well as our measures to help people quit smoking, and our work to grow the number of doctors in clinical oncology and radiology by a quarter since 2019, I’m pleased to say survival rates across almost all types of cancer are improving.”
The investmentment was also welcomed by NHS England and charities.
Dr Imogen Locke, national speciality adviser for radiotherapy at NHS England, said: “The NHS is embracing AI and its benefits for cancer patients and every radiotherapy department will soon be able to offer the latest technology to help diagnose and treat patients more quickly.
“We are seeing a record number of referrals for suspected cancer, and game-changing tools like AI will help the NHS continue the significant progress made in tackling the longest waits for patients.
Professor Pat Price, leading oncologist and chair of Radiotherapy UK, said: "We welcome the Government’s investment in radiotherapy AI- this is great news and shows they have listened to patients with cancer and the radiotherapy community - thank you.
"We now urge the government to see this as the first step on the journey of properly harnessing radiotherapy technology to ensure cancer patients get the treatment they need, quickly and fairly.
"There is so much more that radiotherapy could do to deliver world class cancer care in this country.
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"If today's announcement is properly implemented, along with support for the workforce, it will cut waiting lists and improve cancer treatment.
"I urge the powers that be to do all they can to ensure it is followed by swift action and implementation."
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