The NHS is launching a pilot of an AI-powered “one-day diagnostics” service for prostate cancer that could cut diagnosis times by up to a month.
The pilot, funded by NHS England, will use AI to interpret MRI scans within minutes, identifying potential cancer lesions quickly. It will begin at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust early next year, with up to 15 hospitals involved and around 100 men expected to benefit initially.
If the AI flags a scan as high-risk, it will be reviewed immediately by a radiologist, and the patient can receive a same-day biopsy. This system could allow men to receive an all-clear or diagnosis within days, rather than weeks. The project supports NHS goals to speed up cancer diagnosis and reduce anxiety for patients.
If successful, it could be rolled out nationally, enabling thousands to be diagnosed and treated sooner. The AI tool, Pi, will also be tested in 10,000 scans across other sites, where studies show it can detect 95% of cancers. The approach could bring care closer to home by allowing AI-assisted scans in community diagnostic centres.
Prostate cancer is the UK’s most common male cancer, accounting for over 56,000 new cases and 12,000 deaths annually in England.
