Transforming diagnostics, remote care and operational efficiency with AI

Cari-Anne Quinn

Chief Executive Officer, Life Sciences Hub Wales

Find out how AI is revolutionising healthcare in Wales. From cancer diagnostics to pain management, we’re fostering innovation for better patient outcomes.

The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is helping to enhance patient outcomes and deliver more effective services. This, in turn, can address major challenges such as workforce, cost and demand pressures.

Supportive innovation hub in Wales

In Wales, we foster a supportive, safe and collaborative environment for AI innovation, facilitating development to the implementation of solutions at a national scale by engaging the right stakeholders, including developers, manufacturers and healthcare workers. As a collaborative, Wales is making sure that AI is used safely and transparently by continually developing regulatory and governance arrangements.

We’re home to robust, trusted research environments such as the SAIL Databank, which holds a wealth of population-scale data. Additionally, there’s a rich pool of graduate talent and centres of excellence across Welsh universities. Programmes like the Wales Data Nation Accelerator foster collaboration and innovation.

AI advancing cancer diagnostics

Incredible work is going on across Wales. Cardiff-based JIVA.AI have successfully evaluated an AI diagnostic aid for prostate cancer in Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB).

In digital pathology, Betsi Cadwaladr UHB leads in trialling the IBEX AI platform. Further testing is underway across six health boards, with ambitions to integrate this technology into routine prostate cancer testing across Wales and to explore opportunities in the diagnosis of additional cancers.

As a collaborative, Wales is making sure that
AI is used safely and transparently by continually
developing regulatory and governance arrangements.

AI in pain management

AI is being deployed in a social care setting in Gwent to support pain management. Technology by PainChek provides baseline assessments of pain experienced by people with limited or no communicative ability.

Administrative and communication efficiencies

Healthcare providers are using AI for automating administrative tasks and optimising hospital operations, including patient flow, bed management, staff resources and ambulance responses.

AI-powered chatbots are helping clinical teams support patients at Velindre University NHS Trust, specialising in cancer services. They have developed RITA with IBM Watson Assistant, which answers a variety of cancer-focussed frequently asked questions and directs users to relevant information.

Driving health progress in Wales

AI innovation is positively impacting patients, staff and our wider economy. Life Sciences Hub Wales is driving progress through support, guidance and signposting services. Mike Emery, Chief Digital Officer for NHS Wales says: “Wales is a forward-thinking destination for AI innovation, thanks to our cross-sector collaboration and how we progress ethical AI adoption in health and social care. We’re delighted to be working closely with Life Sciences Hub Wales to drive this forward.”