Staff at St Luke's Hospital in Bradford have described new artificial intelligence (AI) technology, used to detect skin cancer sooner, as a potential "game changer". The dermatology team introduced the system in April 2026 to examine suspicious skin lesions.
The quick scanning process means that 32 patients can be seen in each session, an increase from 24 patients before the AI was adopted. Consultant plastic surgeon Mr Zakir Shariff noted the technology has had a "big impact" on waiting times and the number of unnecessary procedures.
The AI system, called DERM, involves healthcare assistants taking photographs of suspicious moles or lesions, which are then analysed by the system in minutes. Patients with benign cases are discharged, while suspicious cases are referred to a specialist. In Bradford, every image is double-checked by a clinician.
The trust reports that the number of unnecessary biopsies has dropped by about 10% since the AI was introduced. The technology has been recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) for use in the NHS for the next three years while evidence is collected.