AI pathway for skin cancer at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital shortlisted for HSJ Award

We’re thrilled to announce that the Trust has been shortlisted in the HSJ Awards 2024 for our innovative AI pathway to help diagnose and treat patients with skin cancer more quickly at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

The Trust partnered with Skin Analytics in 2022 to implement AI-driven teledermatology, a service which involves taking specialist dermoscopic images of moles or lesions, to classify 11 different lesion types including the most common malignant, pre-malignant, and benign (harmless) skin lesions.

Shortlisted in the Driving Efficiency Through Technology category, the teledermatology service has been recognised as a pioneering NHS initiative, harnessing the latest digital advancements to bring positive change, by accelerating the diagnosis and management of skin cancer.

The technology supports the specialist dermatology team in speeding up discharge for those with benign skin lesions, releasing over 35% of dermatologist appointments for more urgent cases.

Since launching, the service has continued to enhance efficiency with skin cancer conversion rates increasing by 67%, meaning that patients were diagnosed and could start treatment sooner than they otherwise would have been and over 90% of patients avoided an urgent dermatologist appointment. This has enabled the Trust to transition this service from a pilot programme in 2022 to a sustainable, business-as-usual digital solution.

Skin Analytics is part of the CW Innovation programme, which is jointly led by CW+ and the Trust and supports the implementation of new ideas and new digital health technologies that will improve patient care, patient experience and the way our hospitals and clinics are run. CW Innovation has supported the Skin Analytics project at the Trust from the start, not only with funding but also with expert guidance.

Award winners will be announced at the HSJ Awards ceremony on Thursday 21st November.