Five new clinics will open in the UK next year that will use artificial intelligence to help speed up disease diagnosis. The medical technology centres in Leeds, Oxford, Coventry, Glasgow and London will be funded by the Government as it looks to increase its investment in AI and improve patient treatment. The centres will use AI software to digitalise scans and biopsies, and develop products to detect diseases early. The large investment, costing £50million, will ensure people get personalised treatment sooner, as well as freeing up doctors time. Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary Greg Clark said: 'AI has the potential to revolutionise healthcare and improve lives for the better.' 'The innovation at these new centres will help diagnose disease earlier to give people more options when it comes to their treatment, and make reporting more efficient, freeing up time for our much-admired NHS staff to spend on direct patient care.'

As the National Health Service reaches 70, it stands at a crossroads. For those who cherish the NHS, it is no longer possible to ignore the deep questions it faces. How will it be funded in a world of fiscal austerity? How will it be staffed in a world after Brexit? And how deep, really, is the Government's commitment to the principle of universal healthcare?

Thousands of NHS staff are to be trained to use robotics and artificial intelligence as the health service sets out to embrace cutting-edge innovation and technology. New developments in genomics, digital medicine, artificial intelligence and robotics have already revolutionised some NHS treatments such as eye surgery and knee replacements. Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt has called on US academic Eric Topol to carry out a review into how the NHS can pioneer new treatments and technologies to transform healthcare. Dr Topol, an expert in cardiology, genetics and digital medicine, has previously examined the use of wireless and smartphone technology in healthcare, and led a multi-million dollar US research programme focusing on harnessing technology and data to provide more precise, tailored patient treatment. Supported by international experts, his independent review will examine artificial intelligence – including robotics – genomics and digital medicine.

Jeremy Hunt has called for an independent review to explore how innovation and technology can be used to transform health care. The review, led by American cardiology, genetics and digital medicine expert Dr Eric Topol, will consider ways to train existing staff and the implications on the skills required of future healthcare professional. Hunt said, on Friday last week: "Every week we hear about exciting new developments surfacing in the NHS which could help provide answers to some of our greatest challenges, such as cancer or chronic illness. "These give us a glimpse of what the future of the whole NHS could be, which is why in the year of the NHS' 70th birthday I want to empower staff to offer patients modern healthcare more widely and more quickly." Topol's previous work has focused on the relationship between technology and health care. He said: "While it's hard to predict the future, we know artificial intelligence, digital medicine and genomics will have an enormous impact for improving the efficiency and precision in healthcare.

Jeremy Hunt has called for an independent review to explore how innovation and technology can be used to transform health care. The review, led by American cardiology, genetics and digital medicine expert Dr Eric Topol, will consider ways to train existing staff and the implications on the skills required of future healthcare professional. Hunt said, on Friday last week: "Every week we hear about exciting new developments surfacing in the NHS which could help provide answers to some of our greatest challenges, such as cancer or chronic illness. "These give us a glimpse of what the future of the whole NHS could be, which is why in the year of the NHS' 70th birthday I want to empower staff to offer patients modern healthcare more widely and more quickly." Topol's previous work has focused on the relationship between technology and health care. He said: "While it's hard to predict the future, we know artificial intelligence, digital medicine and genomics will have an enormous impact for improving the efficiency and precision in healthcare.

Thousands of NHS staff are to be trained to use robotics and artificial intelligence as the health service sets out to embrace cutting-edge innovation and technology. New developments in genomics, digital medicine, artificial intelligence and robotics have already revolutionised some NHS treatments such as eye surgery and knee replacements. Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt has called on US academic Eric Topol to carry out a review into how the NHS can pioneer new treatments and technologies to transform healthcare. Dr Topol, an expert in cardiology, genetics and digital medicine, has previously examined the use of wireless and smartphone technology in healthcare, and led a multi-million dollar US research programme focusing on harnessing technology and data to provide more precise, tailored patient treatment. Supported by international experts, his independent review will examine artificial intelligence – including robotics – genomics and digital medicine.