Health and Social Care Secretary James Murray praised the pioneering work of clinicians using artificial intelligence to detect recent illnesses, saying he met patients at Wythenshawe Hospital last week and said the technology had “bringed lives back”.
The Health Secretary toured hospital radiology departments and met staff and patients before announcing nearly £30m of investment in artificial intelligence across the NHS.
He explained that AI tools are a “second set of eyes” for radiologists and can provide faster diagnosis and treatment to patients.
Peter Allinson, 59, from Urmston, told Mr Murray how a rapid AI-assisted diagnosis by the team at Wythenshawe Hospital had “gone his life back”.
Peter, a retired engineer who spent his career working on dam construction projects, started just walking in the hills to keep fit after retirement. Late last year, he started 
After hiking to Boots Folly in the Peak District, he had trouble breathing and soon afterward began having problems with his vision.
Peter, a former smoker, feared the worst and thought the symptoms meant he was developing lung cancer.
After an emergency visit to an eye hospital, he was referred for an X-ray at Wythenshawe Hospital, where he was diagnosed with sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is a rare inflammatory disease that can affect the eyes, lungs, and other organs, but it is not cancer. He began treatment immediately and within two weeks completed a series of tests and investigations to determine the full extent of his symptoms.
Peter said:
“When I collapsed on that hillside, I really thought my life was over. Given my history, I knew lung cancer was coming for me.
“Going from that scary moment to receiving treatment and getting a full diagnosis within two weeks was amazing. Everything went so quickly and I’m so grateful for the care I received. The people I met at the NHS were amazing from start to finish.”
“The speed of the diagnosis was really different. I’ll never forget the feeling of relief I felt when I found out the diagnosis results.
“Thanks to the treatment, I was able to do things I love, like play tennis again, something I wasn’t sure I could do. The future is still not 100% clear, but knowing what I’m dealing with, the possible complications that may arise, and the options available to me means I can continue to live my life without being defined by the disease.
“I really feel like I’ve got my life back.”
Dr Anna Sharman, a consultant thoracic radiologist at Wythenshawe Hospital who diagnosed Peter, said:
Said:
“When Peter came to hospital, his symptoms were understandably concerning, especially given his medical history, and it was important that we were able to assess him quickly and confidently.
“Using the Harrison AI system in conjunction with our clinical expertise meant we were able to quickly review his X-rays, identify the cause of his symptoms, and begin treatment without delay.
“This technology acts as a valuable second set of eyes, helping us prioritize patients and detect various conditions early. In Peter’s case, its speed and clarity helped turn a very frightening experience into a positive outcome.”
Peter’s condition was detected with the help of the Harrison AI chest X-ray system, an artificial intelligence tool that helps radiologists examine X-rays more quickly and identify potential concerns. The team at Wythenshawe Hospital has been using the technology to support the analysis of thousands of X-rays every month since it was introduced.
Harrison AI technology will be rolled out across Greater Manchester in November 2024, with seven NHS Trusts across the region adopting the technology as part of a partnership with the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, Greater Manchester Imaging Network and global healthtech company Harrison.ai.
