Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) will soon use artificial intelligence (AI) to detect diseases faster.

The new technology is part of a joint venture with Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, Greater Manchester Imaging Network, and Annalise.ai, a global health tech company.

This AI-powered chest X-ray decision-support system can identify up to 124 findings on radiographs, aiding quicker diagnosis of diseases, including lung cancer.

Dr Marc Williams, a consultant radiologist at WWL, said: "We are excited to use this innovative technology at WWL to support patient care.

"We hope it will help us to streamline the patient journey by allowing us to diagnose cancer more quickly.

"This will mean patients get a better experience and can begin treatment sooner which will hopefully lead to them having better outcomes."

The initiative is being funded by the Artificial Intelligence Diagnostics Fund (AIDF).

The need for swift cancer detection is crucial in Greater Manchester, where lung cancer rates are 24 per cent above the national average.

The Annalise.ai chest X-ray solution will notify the medical provider of potential lung cancer cases within five minutes, allowing healthcare professionals to prioritise these reviews.

This will enhance efficiency and care quality in Greater Manchester.

Phase 1 of the project, involving GP chest X-rays, has gone live at WWL, with Phase 2, including chest X-rays in the Trust’s Emergency Department and In-Patient departments, expected to be rolled out in early 2025.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: "Breakthroughs like this AI tool will help to save lives across the country, speeding up diagnosis so that doctors can provide the best possible treatments to patients sooner."

Dr Rhidian Bramley, a consultant radiologist at The Christie, and diagnostic, digital and innovation lead with the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, said: "This collaboration marks a significant step towards understanding the role of AI in healthcare in the UK with the potential to improve outcomes for patients with lung cancer."

Annalise.ai's chest X-ray solution is set to perform 2.5 million chest X-rays annually, which is more than a third of all chest X-rays carried out across the country.