Telemedicine Clinic (TMC), the teleradiology unit of European diagnostics group Unilabs, is reporting for the UK’s National Health Service England (NHSE) Targeted Lung Health Checks (TLHC) in Doncaster using industry-leading artificial intelligence (AI) from Aidence. The service is in partnership with Alliance Medical and Doncaster Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
The Doncaster Lung Health Check Programme is part of a wider UK screening pilot designed to rule out lung disease and detect cancer at a more treatable stage. Early lung cancer detection can massively increase a patient’s chance of survival. The Doncaster service was launched this week after the original 2019 plan was delayed due to covid-19.
As part of the lung check, a low-dose CT scan will be offered to patients whenever appropriate. The report from these scans will be completed by specialist TMC chest radiologists, accredited by the British Society of Thoracic Imaging. In their reporting, radiologists will use Aidence’s AI solution Veye Lung Nodules to identify and manage any suspected lung nodules.
Veye Lung Nodules automatically detects, classifies, and tracks the growth of pulmonary nodules as small as 3 mm. CE marked under the new Medical Device Regulation, Veye is deployed in routine practice and lung cancer screening across Europe. In the UK, Veye Lung Nodules is used in clinical practice in a variety of NHS hospitals.
TMC’s UK Medical Director Gareth Davies said:
“Finding cancer early is crucial to surviving it. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the outcome and more chance there is for recovery. TMC are delighted to have been chosen to support the project. Through utilising our UK and European network of qualified specialist radiologists, we are able to deliver, in conjunction with the best AI software, a service that will literally help to save lives.”
Dr Jason Page, Clinical Director for the project, commented:
“TMC have already shown they can adapt and be flexible with the CCG in the time they’ve been on board. The ability to have a partner who can bring advanced artificial intelligence at the outset of the project is a great benefit to the residents of Doncaster who will be involved in Lung Health Checks.”
Mark-Jan Harte, Aidence co-founder and CEO, added:
“We are honoured to team up with one of the leading teleradiology companies in the UK and the EU in a programme which we are confident will improve people’s lives. It is also a milestone for Aidence to see Veye Lung Nodules becoming the AI application of choice for sites in the Lung Health Checks.”
About Telemedicine Clinic
Telemedicine Clinic, founded in 2002, is a sub-specialist radiology centre that provides day and night reporting services and support to more than 100 public service hospitals and local health authorities in Europe.
About Alliance Medical
Alliance Medical provides medical imaging and support services to more than 500,000 patients in the UK each year. It employes over 1,000 people in a UK network of static and mobile scanning units and radiopharmaceutical production units.
About the Targeted Lung Health Checks
NHS England’s Targeted Lung Health Checks (TLHC) projects are targeting approximately 600,000 people across 10 areas in England, aiming to detect approximately 3,400 cancers and save hundreds of lives over the coming four years.
