The NHS has launched a trailblazing new pilot that brings together artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced robotics to help detect lung cancer earlier and more accurately than ever before. The pioneering programme, based at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London, aims to transform how patients with suspected lung cancer are assessed, using cutting-edge tools to flag tiny abnormalities in lung scans and guide precise biopsies.
In the new approach, AI software quickly analyses lung imaging and highlights small spots, or nodules, that are most likely to be cancerous. Once these areas are identified, a robotic camera gently navigates the airways to take a highly accurate tissue sample. This innovative combination means that what might once have involved days or weeks of scans and tests can now often be done in a single, half-hour procedure, reducing uncertainty and stress for patients.
Experts say the technology can reach nodules as small as around 6 mm, deep within the lungs, and with a precision that traditional methods sometimes struggle to achieve. If the pilot proves successful, it could help the NHS meet rising demand for early-stage diagnosis as its lung health-check programme expands nationwide, inviting more people for routine screening.
Health leaders involved in the project have described the initiative as a “glimpse of the future of cancer detection”, emphasising that faster, more precise diagnosis offers real benefits for patients and clinicians alike. By catching cancers at an earlier stage, treatment can begin sooner when it is often most effective, improving outcomes and saving lives.
The NHS plans to extend the pilot to other hospitals in the coming months, further widening access to the technology and strengthening its role in tackling cancer inequalities across England.
