AI chest x-ray tool set to improve diagnosis at Leeds trust

Patients in Leeds are expected to benefit from faster and more accurate chest x-ray diagnoses with the introduction of AI software that is undergoing clinical evaluation at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT). Every year, more than 135,000 chest x-rays are performed at LTHT. The software will act as a ‘second pair of eyes’ for clinicians, identifying up to 85 different findings, including those suggestive of lung cancer, acute infections and incorrectly placed feeding and breathing tubes. Results are delivered in minutes, according to AI company annalise.ai.

Part of a regional project backed by the NHS AI Diagnostic Fund and delivered through the Yorkshire Imaging Collaborative, LTHT has partnered with annalise.ai and vendor-neutral platform Newton’s Tree to bring the tool to its hospitals.

Consultant radiologist and clinical lead for the project Dr Fahmid Chowdhury said: “This technology is about putting patients first. By helping busy front-line staff detect serious conditions quickly and accurately, annalise.ai’s Enterprise CXR solution will support clinical decision making and allow us to get patients the treatment they need faster. Such large scale evaluations of the use of AI in everyday clinical practice should provide crucial information to inform our future use of AI to improve the quality of care that we provide to our patients.”

Co-founder and CEO of annalise.ai Dr Aengus Tran said: “We are happy to partner with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Newton’s Tree to bring our AI-powered diagnostic support to the front line of patient care. Th is collaboration is a testament to our commitment to enhancing diagnostic accuracy and efficiency for the NHS with proven, highly sophisticated technologies.”

The software could also play a key role in patient safety, helping to detect critical conditions such as chest sepsis promptly and reducing the risk of avoidable complications such as misplaced medical tubes.

Picture: Dr Fahmid Chowdhury believes the Enterprise CXR solution will support clinical decision making.

Read this report on page 10 of the July 2025 issue of RAD Magazine.