The NHS Breast Screening Programme in NHS Grampian faced the challenge of improving breast cancer detection rates while managing growing pressure on radiologist capacity and reducing unnecessary patient recalls. Traditional screening methods rely on double reading, where two radiologists independently review each mammogram. If they disagree, a third expert is required to make the final decision. This process is highly resource-intensive and difficult to scale.
The solution
The NHS Breast Screening Programme in NHS Grampian faced the challenge of improving breast cancer detection rates while managing growing pressure on radiologist capacity and reducing unnecessary patient recalls. Traditional screening methods rely on double reading, where two radiologists independently review each mammogram. If they disagree, a third expert is required to make the final decision. This process is highly resource-intensive and difficult to scale.
The results
Mia was developed to support radiologists by automatically analysing mammograms and recommending whether further investigation is needed. The system processes images securely by removing all identifiable patient data before analysis. It enables radiologists to benefit from AI-assisted double reading without increasing reporting time or requiring additional clinical resources.
Learnings / insights
Results from the pilot:
Detected 10.4% more cancers than standard practice, marking a substantial boost in early breast cancer identification.
Up to 36% reduction in radiologist workload, streamlining the screening process without increasing unnecessary recalls.
Potential to reduce patient notification times from 14 days to just 3, helping to ease anxiety and accelerate care.
Mia
Streamlining breast cancer screening with AI
The challenge
The NHS Breast Screening Programme in NHS Grampian faced the challenge of improving breast cancer detection rates while managing growing pressure on radiologist capacity and reducing unnecessary patient recalls. Traditional screening methods rely on double reading, where two radiologists independently review each mammogram. If they disagree, a third expert is required to make the final decision. This process is highly resource-intensive and difficult to scale.
The solution
The NHS Breast Screening Programme in NHS Grampian faced the challenge of improving breast cancer detection rates while managing growing pressure on radiologist capacity and reducing unnecessary patient recalls. Traditional screening methods rely on double reading, where two radiologists independently review each mammogram. If they disagree, a third expert is required to make the final decision. This process is highly resource-intensive and difficult to scale.
The results
Mia was developed to support radiologists by automatically analysing mammograms and recommending whether further investigation is needed. The system processes images securely by removing all identifiable patient data before analysis. It enables radiologists to benefit from AI-assisted double reading without increasing reporting time or requiring additional clinical resources.
Learnings / insights
Results from the pilot:
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