Tim Farron urges Science Minister to reverse cuts to AI cancer tech funding

On the floor of the House of Commons this week, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron challenged a senior cabinet minister to restore funding for lifesaving AI cancer technology.

Contouring is used in radiotherapy to ensure treatment is as effective and safe as possible. The tumour and normal tissue is “mapped” or contoured on to medical scans, to ensure the radiation targets the cancer while minimising damage to healthy tissues and organs.

Normally, this is a slow, manual process that can take doctors between 20 and 150 minutes to complete. AI auto-contouring takes less than five minutes.

Analysis by Radiotherapy UK has calculated that removing funding for AI contouring in England will add up to 500,000 extra days to waiting lists for breast, prostate and lung cancer alone.

Speaking in Parliament, Tim said: “The use of AI in radiotherapy planning increases productivity twentyfold, yet the Government’s decision to stop funding for AI contouring is estimated to cost waiting lists half a million extra days. 

“Will the Secretary of State intervene and talk to his friends in the Department of Health and Social Care to make sure that they restore that funding and save lives?.”

In response, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle said: “I can assure the honourable gentleman that we are investing heavily in AI technology across the NHS for the benefit of patients. 

“I have visited Huddersfield hospital, where AI has been fully integrated into the radiography department. 

“I will look into the specific issue that the honourable gentleman has raised, and if there are any conversations to be had, I can assure him that we are on the side of patients and of harnessing technology for the good of patients.”