London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The NHS has started trialling a new iPhone adapter which can inspect whether someone has throat cancer.
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) claimed that thousands of patients could obtain the all-clear for suspected throat cancer quickly as a result of a new iPhone device and app piloted at some of its clinics. The innovative adapter supplying a 32 mm lens and accompanying app can change an iPhone into a portable diagnostic device to be used by nurses to detect or rule out throat cancer.
How will the app enhance patient consultation experiences?
The device catches live endoscopy investigations of the throat in high definition (HD), which can then be instantly shared with expert head and neck consultants via a secure data cloud. A consultant then checks the video footage and can rapidly notice any traces of cancer reporting this back directly to the patient.
Why is early detection critical for cancer treatment?
“Detecting cancer early is critical to providing treatment as soon as possible to assist give patients the best chance of survival. For those needing tests to investigate suspected cancer, it can be an extremely worrying time. And being able to rule out the disease sooner can make a huge difference for people and their families,” declared Dr Cally Palmer, NHS England National Cancer Director.
“Through pioneering innovations like this iPhone device, which could be used in any setting, we hope we’ll be able to detect many more cancers sooner and in ways that are more convenient and less invasive for patients,” she stated.
What impact could this innovation have on cancer diagnosis?
“This new technology is a brilliant example of how innovation and research can tackle waiting lists, enhance patient experience and speed up diagnosis,” expressed UK Minister of State for Health Karin Smyth. Using the app, patients can access a potentially lifesaving consultation. By detecting cancer earlier and treating it faster, we can ensure more people endure this horrible disease. Harnessing technology to support the NHS is a key part of our 10-Year Health Plan, and will shift the NHS NHS from analogue to digital, equipping the health service with more cutting edge technologies to catch cancers on time,” she stated.