New Study Reveals NHS Struggles To Implement AI Diagnostic Tools - 1

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New Study Reveals NHS Struggles To Implement AI Diagnostic Tools

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

The £21 million AI chest diagnostics program from NHS England faced major delays, with procurement, IT challenges, and staff concerns slowing its rollout significantly.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • IT system differences delayed deployment across imaging networks.
  • Clinicians expressed concerns over accountability in AI diagnostic use.
  • Some networks lacked clear plans for informing patients about AI.

A new study reported that NHS England’s AI chest diagnostic program has proven far more complex and time-consuming than expected.

In July 2023, the Artificial Intelligence Diagnostic Fund (AIDF) of NHS England distributed £21 million to 12 imaging networks, which served 66 NHS Trusts. The program implemented AI technology to enhance chest diagnostic capabilities while reducing patient wait times and decreasing staff workload.

The research team from University College London and their partners conducted a fast evaluation between March and September 2024 to study the acquisition and deployment readiness of AI tools. The researchers conducted 51 interviews, observed 57 planning meetings, and analyzed 166 documents to understand the entire process.

The study found that the procurement process extended beyond expectations as networks needed to form evaluation panels, conduct tender reviews, and manage supplier complaints about non-selection.

Contracts, initially expected in November 2023, were only signed months later.

The deployment also faced seatbacks as different healthcare facilities operated with incompatible IT systems, followed distinct governance protocols, and maintained varying levels of data quality.

Staff training was another hurdle. Some clinicians worried about accountability if AI missed a diagnosis. While training made clear that “AI should only act as decision support,” not replace human judgment, concerns lingered. Patient communication also varied: some networks planned posters or leaflets, while others had no clear strategy.

The research identified three key success factors, which included effective leadership, dedicated project managers, and clinical champions who supported the initiative. The networks achieved better results through their mutual exchange of professional knowledge.

The authors concluded: “Implementing AI involved complex social and technical processes, requiring significant resources.” They warned that, while AI may improve diagnostics, it will not fix NHS pressures as easily as policymakers hope.

The project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Reddit Launches New Pro Tools For Publishers - 2

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Reddit Launches New Pro Tools For Publishers

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Reddit announced on Wednesday new Reddit Pro tools for publishers. The three new features aim to help media outlets share and track content on the platform.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Reddit announced on Wednesday three new Reddit Pro tools for publishers.
  • The new features are aimed to help media outlets track and improve the article’s performance.
  • The social platform is also testing a new interactive way to read articles within the platform.

According to Reddit’s official announcement , 75% of its over 110 million users read news and get informed through the platform at least 2 or 3 times per week, citing a recent GWI survey. Reddit emphasized that its communities add a valuable human factor, and the company aims to improve the way publishers share and distribute relevant information.

“We’re introducing Reddit Pro tools for publishers to help media outlets easily share and track content across Reddit’s over 110M+ daily active uniques, and an improved link viewing experience for reading and discussing these stories,” states the announcement.

The three new features—still in beta and specifically designed for publishers—are article insights, auto-import articles, and community recommendations. All features are hosted under the new “Links” tab and are currently available to beta testers only.

With the article insights feature, publishers will be able to track content performance and key metrics such as upvotes, clicks, views, and information about the specific communities where stories are shared.

Through auto-import, publishers can synchronize RSS feeds to automatically import articles as soon as they are published. The community recommendations feature uses AI to suggest the best communities to help content reach the most relevant audiences.

Reddit said it has already been testing the new features with publishers such as The Atlantic, The Associated Press, and NBC News. The company is now accepting applications from publishers interested in joining the new program—expected to expand to a wider audience next year.

Reddit has recently introduced multiple changes to its platform. It became Google AI Overviews’s most cited platform earlier this year, but has struggled to retain users. A few weeks ago, the company also announced its plan to become a “go-to search engine.”