A pioneering NHS hospital in west London is leading the way in employing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for skin cancer detection.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital has announced the successful application of its AI technology, which enables patients to receive reassurance regarding their skin health without needing a doctor’s visit.

Patients can upload images of their skin concerns to the system, which then accurately analyzes and interprets them, boasting a 99% accuracy rate in identifying non-cancerous cases, according to the hospital.

Thousands of individuals within the NHS have undergone urgent cancer evaluations utilizing this AI tool, which has allowed specialists to dedicate their attention to more critical cases and effectively reduce waiting times.

The process is swift; medical photographers capture images of concerning moles and lesions using an iPhone in conjunction with the DERM app, created by the UK-based company Skin Analytics. These images are subsequently transferred to a desktop for enhanced evaluation, enabling the AI to deliver results.

Patients with non-cancerous conditions are often released with minimal input from a healthcare professional, except in a few instances.

The hospital receives around 7,000 immediate skin cancer referrals annually, yet only a small 5% are confirmed as cancerous.

Dr. Louise Fearfield, a consultant dermatologist at the facility, noted, “Without this technology, we would struggle to manage the influx of urgent skin cancer referrals.

“I truly believe that we wouldn’t be able to keep pace, risking missed diagnoses or patients enduring prolonged waits for their results.”

After his brother Jeff was diagnosed with melanoma, Jimmy Tovey opted to have one of his moles assessed through the AI tool. Fortunately, he received a clean bill of health.

“They simply took a photo. That was all it took,” he recounted.

“I think it was the following day or the day after that I received a call saying, ‘Mr. Povey, there’s nothing to worry about – it’s just a mole.’

“The anxiety was lifted within two days.”

The AI technology has now been introduced in over 20 additional NHS hospitals, assisting physicians in their diagnostic processes and helping to identify over 14,000 cancer cases across the UK.

Roger Chinn, the chief medical officer at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, commented, “The wait for a hospital appointment and diagnosis can be a daunting experience, particularly concerning a mole or skin lesion.

“This represents a significant advancement in the efficient diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer.

“It allows dermatologists to prioritize urgent cases, contributing to saving lives and enhancing the patient experience.”

Dr. Lucy Thomas, another consultant dermatologist at the hospital, expressed a desire for the eventual development of AI diagnostic tools that can be utilized by patients independently.

“The goal is certainly to bring this technology closer to patients for their benefit.

“Currently, the technology is somewhat restricted, as it requires a dermoscopic lens that the average person may not have access to, but I am confident that with time, advancements will occur and we will see effective applications available for patients to use from their own homes.”