The NHS East Midlands Imaging Network (EMRAD) have published an insightful report, sharing learnings from their trailblazing project, which used artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to support breast screening.

From October 2018 – December 2020, the NHS East Midlands Imaging Network (EMRAD) partnered with two UK AI start-up companies to develop, test and ultimately deploy operational and clinical AI into breast screening services.

The aim was to use AI to increase care capacity and give patients and the public confidence about the use of AI in breast screening.

The East Midlands AHSN worked with EMRAD from the start of the project, supporting the initial NHS Test Bed bid for funding and then as member of the project board providing general support and advice, and with specific responsibility for the commercialisation workstream.

The report marks the closure of the project, which follows a comprehensive evaluation report. The latest report Capacity, Care, Confidence - Using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to support Breast Screening covers key project learnings such as:

• Complications of data sharing with a third party provider
• The importance of patient and public involvement
• Defining benefits and success criteria

Penny Storr Programme Director at EMRAD said: “Although we are not exactly where we thought we would be by the end of the project, we are significantly more advanced in our thinking and the outputs delivered than we initially forecast when we started this work. We believe we have laid the foundations for further and faster developments in this field. We hope the report proves insightful and useful for any other NHS organisations embarking upon a similar journey and also useful for technology AI start-ups when considering working with an NHS partner.”

Tim Robinson, Commercial Director at the East Midlands AHSN said: “The work undertaken by EMRAD along with their industry partners is an example of the progression and potential of the use of AI within health and care. The project evaluation and recent report highlights some really important learnings that will be invaluable to those thinking about similar transformation projects. EMRAD and all of their partners have worked extremely hard over the 27 months of the project and I’m sure that the evidence generated will go a long way to support future use cases for AI – well done to all of those involved.”

Read the full report here.