AI to act as ‘second pair of eyes’ for radiologists in NHS prostate cancer diagnostic push

Nice recommends five AI tools for two-year trial to speed up MRI reporting and ease strain on radiology teams

By LineZotpaper

Published23 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Artificial intelligence software is set to be deployed across the NHS in England to help radiologists identify prostate cancer on MRI scans, after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) backed five tools in draft guidance for a two-year trial. The move is designed to ease pressure on stretched radiology teams as demand for prostate scans rises.

Artificial intelligence tools will be trialled across the NHS in England to help radiologists spot prostate cancer on MRI scans, under draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommending five specific systems.

The software is designed to act as a “second pair of eyes” for clinical staff, highlighting areas on prostate scans where cancer may be present. The tools will run in NHS services for two years to gather more evidence on how they work, with a radiologist reviewing every scan alongside the AI results.

Nice said demand for prostate MRIs has risen, driven by the routine use of pre-biopsy scans to confirm or rule out the disease, adding strain to radiology teams already under workforce pressure. Around 68,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK every year.

Dr Anastasia Chalkidou, programme director for HealthTech at Nice, said the technologies had the potential to make MRI reporting more accurate and to “help identify people whose scans need priority review”.

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said prostate cancer is the most common cancer in England and the tools could support faster, more accurate diagnosis. “A radiologist will review every scan, so the technology supports our expert staff but does not replace them,” he said, noting that AI has already been used in lung cancer to speed up diagnosis.

An independent Nice committee said AI could improve the accuracy and consistency of how prostate MRIs are interpreted, though more evidence is needed on how the tools perform in routine NHS practice. Dr Adrian Hayter, a GP and chief medical officer at Nice, said the systems would support, not replace, radiologists, who would still review the scan and the AI results before any decisions about patient care.

Amy Rylance, director of health services, equity and improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said men with suspected cancer “often face long, anxious waits for tests”. She described AI as a “game changer” for radiologists, saying it could unlock capacity to read MRI scans, improve the detection of dangerous cancers, and give men who do not have cancer the all-clear far quicker, reducing stress.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Around 68,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK each year, and the NHS says faster reporting could shorten anxious waits for results.
Radiology teams are under strain from rising MRI demand and workforce shortages; the tools are intended to manage that load while keeping radiologists responsible for every scan.
The two-year trial will help decide whether AI-assisted MRI reporting becomes standard NHS practice, with the lung cancer pathway already showing the direction of travel.

Background

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in England. MRI scans are now used routinely before biopsy to confirm or rule out disease, which has driven up demand for the scans and added to pressure on radiology services.

AI imaging tools work by analysing scans and flagging areas of concern for a clinician to review. The NHS has already used the approach in lung cancer diagnosis, and Nice's draft guidance proposes extending it to prostate MRI reporting. The independent committee behind the guidance agreed the technology could improve accuracy and consistency, but said evidence from routine hospital use is still needed.

Key Perspectives

Nice and the NHS: The tools act as a second pair of eyes, improving accuracy and consistency, prioritising urgent scans and supporting stretched teams. Both organisations stress the AI supports rather than replaces radiologists, who review every scan and the AI results before any decision about care.

Prostate Cancer UK: Patient advocates say AI could be a game changer for radiologists, unlocking capacity to read scans, improving the speed and detection of dangerous cancers, and giving men without cancer a faster all-clear, reducing stress and anxiety.

Critics and sceptics: The caution comes from Nice's own independent committee, which said more evidence is needed on how the tools work in routine NHS practice. The two-year trial is designed to collect that evidence, so the final recommendation will depend on how the software performs in day-to-day hospital use.

What to Watch

The evidence gathered during the two-year NHS trial on how the five tools perform in routine practice.
Nice's final guidance once the draft consultation closes, which will determine whether the tools are formally recommended for wider roll-out.
Any early signs of impact on MRI waiting times and reporting workloads, particularly for men who do not have cancer and could be cleared faster.

Sources

AI to give doctors ‘second pair of eyes’ to help spot prostate cancer on MRI scans · The Independent UK

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe headline says AI will act as a “second pair of eyes” for radiologists.The Independent UK: “According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), the software will function as a "second pair of eyes" for clinical staff.”
SupportedNice recommends five AI tools for a two-year trial.The Independent UK: “In fresh draft guidance, the health service spending watchdog recommended five specific tools, which will be trialled across the NHS for two years to collect further evidence regarding how they work.”
Partly supportedThe trial is intended to speed up MRI reporting.The Independent UK: “They have the potential to make MRI reporting more accurate and could help identify people whose scans need priority review.”
SupportedThe AI tools are to be deployed across NHS England to help radiologists identify prostate cancer on MRI scans.The Independent UK: “Artificial intelligence programmes are to be deployed across the NHS in England to assist doctors in identifying prostate cancer on MRI scans.”
SupportedThe move is intended to ease pressure on radiology teams as demand for prostate scans rises.The Independent UK: “Nice noted that demand for prostate MRIs has risen, driven by the routine use of pre-biopsy scans to confirm or rule out the disease. This increase has added strain to radiology teams already stretched by workforce pressures.”
SupportedChalkidou said the tools could “help identify people whose scans need priority review”.The Independent UK: “They have the potential to make MRI reporting more accurate and could help identify people whose scans need priority review.”
SupportedAround 68,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK every year.The Independent UK: “There are around 68,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK every year.”
SupportedJohnson said a radiologist will review every scan and the technology will not replace staff.The Independent UK: “A radiologist will review every scan, so the technology supports our expert staff but does not replace them.”
SupportedJohnson said prostate cancer is England’s most common cancer and the tools can support faster, more accurate diagnosis.The Independent UK: “Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in England, and these AI tools can help radiologists identify areas of concern on MRI scans and support faster, more accurate diagnosis.”
SupportedAn independent Nice committee said AI could improve the accuracy and consistency of prostate MRI interpretation, but more routine-practice evidence is needed.The Independent UK: “An independent Nice committee said AI could improve the accuracy and consistency of how prostate MRIs are interpreted, though more evidence is needed on how they work in routine NHS practice.”
SupportedRylance said men with suspected cancer “often face long, anxious waits for tests”.The Independent UK: “Amy Rylance, director of health services, equity and improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said men with suspected cancer “often face long, anxious waits for tests”.”
Partly supportedRylance described AI as a “game changer” for radiologists.The Independent UK: “With increasing pressure on the NHS and growing numbers of men being diagnosed with prostate cancer, AI could be a game changer for radiologists, unlocking capacity to read MRI scans, and improving the consistency, speed and detection of dangerous cancers.”