Ipswich Hospital to use AI to help detect fractures
Artificial intelligence is being used to scan X-rays and identify potential bone fractures at Ipswich Hospital, aiming to speed up diagnosis and treatment.
The big picture: East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) is implementing AI technology called Boneview to support doctors in detecting fractures that the human eye may miss.
- The AI will scan thousands of X-rays to look for signs of fractures
- It aims to help prioritise patients with potential fractures detected by the technology
- Doctors will still review all X-rays, with the AI as an additional tool
Why it matters: The technology could improve patient care by identifying fractures earlier and reducing wait times in A&E.
What they're saying: "We hope this will be particularly beneficial, for example, when a patient x-ray is being viewed by a doctor and their x-ray may not be reviewed by radiology for some time," said Dr James Hathorn, consultant radiologist at ESNEFT.
Key details:
- Boneview will be used at Ipswich Hospital, Colchester Hospital and Clacton Hospital's Urgent Treatment Centre
- The trial will run until June 2025
- The technology was developed by a company called Gleamer
The bottom line: While humans will still review all X-rays, AI aims to improve A&E turnaround times and enhance the overall patient experience.
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