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NHS launches AI trial to speed up fracture detection in emergency care
A two-year pilot scheme will deploy artificial intelligence to identify fractures and dislocations in emergency departments across three hospitals in northern England, beginning later this month.
The initiative, led by Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, aims to reduce diagnostic delays by using AI as a supplementary tool for clinicians. The technology will analyze X-ray images and flag potential issues for further review, though final decisions will remain with medical staff.
How the AI system will work
According to Jake Bates, an advanced practitioner reporting radiographer, the AI software will generate an annotated version of each X-ray almost instantly. This version will highlight areas of concern-such as possible fractures or dislocations-alongside the original image in the patient's record.
"Every X-ray will still be examined by our clinicians, and they will make the final decision about the diagnosis and the correct course of treatment for that patient," Bates emphasized.
The trust clarified that the AI tool will not be used for patients under two years old, nor for imaging of the chest, spine, skull, face, or soft tissues. It will also exclude inpatient and outpatient clinics, focusing solely on emergency department cases.
Potential benefits and precedents
Abdul Khan, a consultant in emergency medicine at the trust, noted that similar AI applications in northern Europe have demonstrated success in managing high patient volumes. "We are excited to see if it has a similar impact here," Khan said, pointing to the technology's potential to ease pressure on overstretched emergency services.
The pilot will run across the trust's hospitals in Scunthorpe, Grimsby, and Goole, with NHS England overseeing the trial. If successful, the scheme could expand to other regions facing comparable challenges in emergency care.
Safeguards and limitations
While the AI system aims to accelerate diagnoses, the trust stressed that it will serve only as an assistive tool. Clinicians will retain full authority over diagnostic and treatment decisions, ensuring patient safety remains paramount.
The trial reflects a broader trend in healthcare toward integrating AI to augment-rather than replace-human expertise, particularly in high-demand specialties like emergency medicine.
