New NHS cancer test using AI and robots offers 'glimpse of the future'

The 'life-changing' test could speed up diagnosis of the UK's third most common cancer

The NHS has revealed a new pilot that combines artificial intelligence (AI) with robotic technology to diagnose patients with suspected lung cancer faster. Officials have hailed the project, which will use AI software to analyse lung scans and flag suspicious spots, as 'a glimpse of the future of cancer detection'.

The pilot, led by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, will also use a robotic catheter - a thin tube inserted into the patient via the throat - to take biopsies of suspicious spots, known as nodules. The robotic system can reach spots as small as 6mm, which are often hidden deep in the lung.

These nodules, which will then be analysed in a lab to diagnose or rule out cancer, may go undetected at screening and can be harder for medics to reach to take biopsies, leaving patients to wait for repeat scans to see if they grow.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who underwent robotic surgery when being treated for kidney cancer, said the pilot will catch cancer earlier and replace 'weeks of invasive testing with a single targeted procedure'. The announcement comes alongside NHS plans to expand lung cancer screening, with all eligible people invited for their first check by 2030.

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Cancer, said: "Waiting to find out if you might have cancer is incredibly stressful for patients and their families. Our lung cancer screening programme means that we are picking up more cancers at an early stage than ever, and by bringing AI and robotics together in this trailblazing NHS pilot, we’re bringing in the very latest technology to give clinicians a clearer look inside the lungs and support faster, more accurate biopsies.

"This is a glimpse of the future of cancer detection. Innovation like this is exactly how we can help diagnose more cancers faster, so treatment can be most effective, and why the NHS continues to lead the way in bringing new technology safely into frontline care."

Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK, with more than 49,000 new diagnoses and around 33,000 deaths every year. Specialists have already tested the method on hundreds of patients. Of the 300 robotic biopsy procedures already carried out, some 215 people went on to have cancer treatment. The new pilot will involve a further 250 patients.

Trials of targeted lung cancer screening started in 2019, with the programme rolled out nationally in 2023. It invites people who have ever smoked and are between the ages of 55 and 74 to have their lung health checked.

Since 2019, more than 1.5 million people have been screened, NHS England said. The expansion of the programme will invite a further 1.4 million people next year alone. Officials estimate that screening could diagnose up to 50,000 cancers by 2035, at least 23,000 of which will be at an earlier stage.

Mr Streeting added: "When I was diagnosed with kidney cancer, the NHS saved my life using robotic technology. That experience showed me what’s possible when brilliant clinicians have access to cutting-edge innovation – it saves lives.

"Lung cancer is one of the biggest killers in the UK and this pilot will help to catch it earlier, replacing weeks of invasive testing with a single targeted procedure. For patients waiting anxiously for answers, this speed and precision can be life-changing."

David Lindsay, from Streatham, is one patient to have already benefited from the procedure combining AI and robotics. The IT contractor was referred to Guy’s Hospital for a suspected blood clot in his left leg in September 2025.

However, scans picked up a nodule on his lung and medics were able to take a sample using the robotic system. Mr Lindsay was diagnosed with stage one lung cancer and then had an operation to remove the disease.

He said: "It was quick and painless. I wasn’t worried because all the staff made me feel comfortable and assured. They clearly explained the findings and after a comprehensive discussion, it was agreed that removal of the cancer was the best option in this instance. The operation was a success."