Introduction
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has initiated the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the early detection of skin cancer.
Implementation Details
The AI technology was introduced at St Luke’s Hospital on 30 April 2026. Healthcare professionals will utilize the AI software for an initial period of three years to quickly analyze skin lesions and identify those that may be cancerous.
Technology Overview
The Deep Ensemble for Recognition of Malignancy (DERM) technology, created by Skin Analytics, evaluates images to assist in the triage of skin lesions. This system:
- Redirects benign cases to non-urgent pathways
- Reduces waiting times by efficiently prioritizing patients with suspicious lesions
Expert Insights
Zakir Shariff, consultant plastic surgeon and clinical lead for skin cancer at the trust, described the project as “the future of skin cancer diagnosis in this country.” He emphasized that:
- The AI will enable quicker identification of serious skin lesions compared to current methods.
- Out of 5,000 annual referrals for skin cancer, only 8% (approximately 400 patients) are diagnosed with malignant cancer.
- DERM technology can swiftly identify potentially serious lesions, allowing medical staff to focus on urgent cases.
Patient Process
Once a patient is referred by their GP to the new tele-dermatology service, healthcare staff will:
- Capture detailed photographs of any suspicious skin lesions.
- Utilize an algorithm to analyze the images for visual characteristics, providing a suspected diagnosis.
- Direct patients with suspicious lesions to a consultant dermatologist for further evaluation.
Immediate Care
If a lesion is deemed suspicious, the patient will be seen in a ‘one-stop clinic’ adjacent to the imaging clinic. The dermatologist will:
- Examine the mole identified as cancerous
- Perform an immediate excision for laboratory diagnosis
Future Prospects
Tom White, general manager for the Musculoskeletal and Therapies Clinical Support Unit, noted that the automated use of DERM could significantly:
- Reduce the number of urgent referrals needing dermatologist review
- Shorten waiting times and allow focus on the most critical cases
- Expand the service into community settings, alleviating hospital stress for patients
Performance and Adoption
According to reports from Skin Analytics, DERM boasts a 99.7% accuracy rate in ruling out skin cancers, facilitating quicker diagnoses and minimizing patient wait times. The AI program is currently operational in 25 other NHS trusts across the UK, including notable institutions like Manchester University and Liverpool University Hospitals.