Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.basingstokegazette.co.uk
The technology will be used to triage skin cancer referrals in what has been described as the largest rollout of autonomous medical AI in NHS history.
DERM, an AI tool developed by UK-based Skin Analytics, is set to go live across all 18 NHS trusts in the South East starting this autumn.
DERM will be deployed throughout NHS South East England. (Image: Skin Analytics)
Neil Daly, founder and chief executive of Skin Analytics, said: “We are delighted to work with NHS England South East on a landmark partnership to improve skin cancer pathways for the entire region.
“We’ve helped more than 250,000 patients find more than 25,000 cancers over six years, and this partnership takes a proven technology to a large part of the UK.
“The NHS is the only health system anywhere to take autonomous AI into cancer pathways at this scale, and that’s a real world first that happened here.”
The technology is already in use at Amersham Hospital, part of Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust.
Dr Alexandra Kemp, consultant dermatologist and trust cancer clinical director at Amersham Hospital, said: “Across the country referrals for suspected skin cancer are continuing to rise and there are not enough dermatologists to manage these referrals.
“AI DERM is a clinically proven AI device that has enabled us, through image assessment, to take harmless lesions off the cancer pathway more quickly, allowing the dermatologists in Buckinghamshire to focus time on true skin cancers, and at the same time freeing up more capacity to see other common but sometimes debilitating skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and acne.”
DERM, which has been part of NHS dermatology services for more than six years, is the first and only AI certified for autonomous use under Class III CE marking.
It operates under NHS data governance and clinical safety and safety standards.
The AI tool has assessed more than 250,000 patients and identified over 25,000 cancers, with accuracy shown to match or exceed face-to-face assessments by dermatologists.
Daghni Rajasingam, regional chief medical officer for NHS England South East, said: “For patients, a suspected cancer referral can be an anxious time.
“Using AI safely alongside clinical expertise means many people can receive reassurance sooner, while those who need further investigation can be prioritised for specialist care.
“This rollout will also free up thousands of hours of valuable clinical time, helping teams focus on patients with the most complex needs and creating capacity for thousands more appointments.”
