The new approach uses AI software to rapidly analyse lung scans and flag small lumps that are most likely to be cancerous. A robotic camera is then used to guide biopsy tools through the airways with far greater precision than standard techniques. 

Dr Anne Rigg, medical director for cancer and surgery at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘This pilot brings together artificial intelligence and robotic technology as genuinely disruptive tools to simplify and shorten the lung cancer diagnostic pathway. By combining AI-enabled risk stratification with highly precise robotic biopsy, we are reducing delays and unnecessary steps to diagnosis.'

The pilot comes alongside plans for the NHS to expand lung cancer screening, ensuring every eligible person is invited for checks in less than five years, no matter where they live, continuing the Government's drive to tackle inequalities in cancer outcomes as part of the National Cancer Plan which is expected next week.

From January, the pilot formally launches at Guy's and St Thomas', with planned expansion to King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, allowing more patients referred with suspected lung cancer to benefit from the new approach. 

If successful, the pilot will help the NHS generate evidence to develop a national commissioning policy for robotic bronchoscopy, supporting more consistent access to the technology across the NHS in future. 

The expansion is set to see the NHS invite 1.4m people for a lung cancer check next year alone. The programme is expected to diagnose up to 50,000 cancers by 2035 and at least 23,000 at an earlier stage, potentially saving thousands of lives. 

Nuha Yassin, consultant colorectal surgeon and RCS England council lead for the Future of Surgery, Robotics and Digital Surgery, said: ‘This innovative NHS pilot demonstrates the remarkable potential of advanced technology in the form of robotic assisted diagnostic tools and AI. This has a real potential to transform patient care as demonstrated by pilot studies. As we celebrate the technology and innovations expand across the NHS, it is vital that enthusiasm for this is matched with rigorous training, equity of access, strong clinical governance, and consistent national standards. That is why RCS England published updated guidance last year, setting out a strengthened national framework to support the safe, evidence-based roll-out of robotic surgery across the NHS.'