The UK National Health Service (NHS) is piloting an artificial intelligence system designed to quickly identify severe injuries in CT scans, enabling rapid treatment.

The program, which can potentially improve patient outcomes significantly, is currently being tested at Guys' and St Thomas', King's College Hospital Foundation, and the Northumbria Foundation trust.

Developed by Qure.ai, the algorithm can rapidly analyze scans, flagging severe cases for radiologist review.

Pooja Rao, the co-founder of Qure.ai, said this technology could accelerate diagnosis by up to an hour during busy times, which is vital in cases of brain bleeding where immediate action is required.

The NHS aims to extend the trial to six to eight other hospital trusts in the next two years, with the potential for broader implementation if successful.