The UK’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced that nearly 700,000 women across the country will take part in a “world-leading” trial to test how AI tools can be used to catch breast cancer cases earlier.

As the government ramps up use of new technology across the board, 30 testing sites across the country will be enhanced with new AI technologies, ready to invite women already booked in for routine screenings on the NHS to take part.

The technology will assist radiologists with screening patients to identify changes in breast tissue that show possible signs of cancer, who will be referred for further investigations if required.

As it stands, two specialists are needed per mammogram screening. With AI, however, just one is necessary to complete the same screening process safely and efficiently. If the trial proves to be successful, it could free up radiologists and other specialists to see more patients, cut waiting lists, and save more lives.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, with around 55,000 people being diagnosed with the disease every year in the UK. Currently, women between the ages 50 and 71 are invited to be screened every three years to help detect cases. This equates to around 2.1 million breast cancer screens carried out by the programme annually.

The announcement of the trial comes as cancer experts, people living with cancer, and medical professionals are invited to help shape the development of a new National Cancer Plan via the launch of a call for evidence, being announced later today by the health and social care secretary at an event hosted by Macmillan Cancer Support to mark World Cancer Day.

Dubbed “EDITH” (Early Detection using Information Technology in Health), the trial is backed by £11 million in government support via the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Professor Lucy Chappell, who serves as chief scientific adviser at the DHSC, said: “This landmark trial could lead to a significant step forward in the early detection of breast cancer, offering women faster, more accurate diagnoses when it matters most.

“It is another example of how NIHR research, shaped and funded by the public, is crucial for rigorously testing world-leading new technologies, such as AI, that can potentially save lives while reducing the burden on the NHS.”

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The announcement also follows a recent investigation from Lord Darzi, director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College. The investigation found that someone in the UK dies from cancer every four minutes, and that cancer survival in this country is worse for some cancers than some similar nations.

Health and social care secretary of state Wes Streeting further commented: “As a cancer survivor, I feel like one of the lucky ones.

“With record numbers of people diagnosed with cancer, and Lord Darzi finding that cancer survival is worse in this country than our peers, I know that urgent action is needed to save lives and improve patient care.

“That’s why for World Cancer Day, I am committed to publishing a dedicated National Cancer Plan this year, to unleash Britain’s potential as a world-leader in saving lives from this deadly disease and make the NHS fit for the future through our Plan for Change.”