Advancements in technology have increased the potential for AI in healthcare to save lives across England.
In the UK, there is a significant disparity in access to thrombectomy services, particularly for populations with high levels of deprivation. This is a distinct concern for UHNM, based in Stoke-on-Trent.
The city is one of the most deprived areas within the country, ranking 13th (out of 317) in England (based on the 2019 Indices of Multiple Deprivation), with over 50 per cent of residents in the two most deprived deciles.
These disparities highlight why advancements in the use of AI in healthcare are essential for improving access and equity in treatment.
UHNM was the first hospital in the UK to provide a 24/7 mechanical thrombectomy service and has been at the forefront of pioneering the service nationally ever since. This has enabled the provision of specialist care and treatment for thousands of patients who have had a potentially life-changing stroke.
The procedure involves carefully removing blood clots from deep within the brain, using a three-foot-long wire. A stent at the end of the wire envelopes the clot and pulls it out, allowing blood to flow freely to the brain. This procedure is most effective when performed within 6 to 24 hours after stroke symptoms begin, with earlier interventions leading to better outcomes. It also means NHS services are used more productively and efficiently.
Above-Average Outcomes at UHNM
Ten per cent of stroke admissions are eligible to be treated by mechanical thrombectomy in the UK. UHNM treats 12.8 per cent of stroke admissions with thrombectomy, which is four times higher than the national average of 3.3 per cent in England. The hospital successfully meets the national target by treating all thrombectomy-eligible stroke patients admitted directly to Royal Stoke.
This treatment has proved to be life-changing for many. Patients with the most severe strokes previously had a mortality risk of 50 per cent, whereas this treatment has a direct impact on the patient population, reducing mortality to 14 per cent – one of the lowest figures in the UK for such severe strokes.
Latest figures from the NHS GIRFT data reveal that 32 per cent of patients undergoing thrombectomy at UHNM are discharged with no stroke symptoms. This rate is four to five times higher than the national average of seven per cent in England. After undergoing thrombectomy, 49.4 per cent of patients at UHNM are able to live independently, compared to the national average of 34.7 per cent.
The increase has been made possible thanks to more efficient teamwork, but also advancements in technology, including artificial intelligence (AI).
UHNM, again, led the way in using AI in healthcare and stroke treatment on a regular basis in 2018. Over the past few years, NHS England has implemented a rapid national rollout of AI in healthcare, as part of a national optimal stroke imaging pathway, to stroke services across England.
As of summer 2024, every stroke centre in England (107 sites in total) is now utilising the technology, meaning AI is already playing an important role in improving the care of around 80,000 people who have a stroke in England every year.
Consultant Interventional Neuroradiologist Dr Sanjeev Nayak said, “We were the first hospital in the UK to provide a 24/7 mechanical thrombectomy service, and UHNM has very much been at the forefront of pioneering the procedure nationally.”
Dr Nayak said, “The use of AI enables us to see how much of the brain has been impacted by a stroke, based on scan results. We can quickly see where any blockage is, as well as what the vessels look like.”
Dr Indira Natarajan, Consultant Stroke Physician and UHNM Clinical Director for Neurosciences, said, “We are very proud of our stroke services and how quickly we’re able to treat patients through our mechanical thrombectomy.”
“As we move forward, we are able to scale these pioneering techniques to now carry out procedures on smaller, distal vessels.”
The use of AI to drive innovation in stroke services means UHNM is well placed to realise the ambitions of the National Stoke Programme in supporting increased access to thrombectomy. The team in UHNM runs training courses for stroke teams in surrounding trusts on better-identifying vessel blockages so they can pick up cases earlier and refer them to the Trust.
Looking Ahead: Scaling Innovation and Expanding Use of AI in Healthcare
With the support of NHS England, UHNM will develop this service as part of the forthcoming 10-year plan and the increased emphasis on innovation and AI. We envisage we will provide mechanical thrombectomies for more patients and train additional people to carry out this highly advanced procedure.
This service is a great example of the many ways in which UHNM is accelerating the adoption of AI in healthcare to deliver improved outcomes for patients, enhance productivity and increase efficiency. We were pleased to recently host Dr Vin Diwakar, National Director for Transformation, to view some of the innovative approaches we have developed at UHNM and to demonstrate our ability to work further with NHS England to advance our capability to lead on digital transformation.
