The NHS is set to trial a revolutionary AI-powered ‘one-day diagnostics’ service for prostate cancer, aiming to cut waiting times and accelerate treatment for thousands of men across England.
Funded by NHS England, the pilot will begin early next year at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, with up to 15 hospitals expected to take part. Around 100 men will benefit initially from the new rapid diagnosis pathway, which uses artificial intelligence to interpret MRI scans in minutes.
The AI tool, Pi, developed by Lucida Medical, can detect high-risk lesions with up to 95% accuracy, allowing:
- Immediate referral to radiologists for priority review
- Same-day biopsy bookings
- Potential for same-day all-clear or diagnosis
The NHS’ National Clinical Director for Cancer, Professor Peter Johnson, 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.”
This dramatically reduces the time from referral to diagnosis, which under current guidelines can take up to seven days or longer, depending on radiologist capacity.
If successful, the AI-assisted MRI scans could be rolled out to community diagnostic centres, helping move care closer to patients and easing pressure on hospitals.
The trial supports NHS England’s ambition to ensure more patients receive a diagnosis or are ruled out within 28 days of referral, in line with national cancer targets.
Prostate cancer accounts for over a quarter of male cancer diagnoses in the UK, with 56,000 new cases annually and 12,000 deaths. Faster diagnosis could lead to earlier treatment and improved survival rates.
The pilot is part of the Small Business Research Initiative Healthcare programme, which funds innovative technologies to improve NHS care. The trial runs until March 2026, with 10,000 scans expected to be analysed using the AI tool across participating sites.
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