Thousands of patients could soon get the all-clear for suspected throat cancer faster than ever, thanks to a pioneering iPhone device being trialled by the NHS.
The new gadget, an adapter with a 32mm lens that transforms an iPhone into a portable diagnostic tool, enables nurses to capture high-definition video of patients’ throats.
Paired with an app, the device allows these images to be instantly shared with specialist consultants via a secure cloud, giving experts the chance to review and diagnose any cancer signs remotely.
Already being rolled out across the West Midlands, this “cutting-edge” technology has the potential to free up time and resources in hospitals and shorten waiting times for vital tests. In the future, it could even be used in community settings, sparing patients from travelling to hospital for assessments.
In initial trials at North Midlands University Hospitals NHS Trust, the device proved highly accurate, with no cancers missed among low-risk patients. Remarkably, patients received results within just 23 hours—offering swift peace of mind for thousands and allowing doctors to focus on patients with confirmed cancer diagnoses.
Dr Cally Palmer, NHS England’s National Cancer Director, praised the innovation: “Detecting cancer early is key to providing treatment as soon as possible, giving patients the best chance of survival. For those waiting on tests, this technology can ease that worrying wait time.”
Health Minister Karin Smyth echoed this enthusiasm, hailing the device as “a shining example of how innovation can help tackle waiting lists, improve patient experience, and speed up diagnosis.”
The device is developed by West Midlands-based Endoscope-i Ltd and funded through the NHS Cancer Programme’s £25 million Innovation Open Call. It joins other NHS-backed technologies, such as an oesophageal cancer-detecting sponge and home-testing kits for those genetically predisposed to certain cancers.
The device comes at a critical time, with the NHS seeing a surge in urgent cancer referrals. Head and neck cancers, especially challenging to catch early, affect around 250,000 patients annually, with just 5% diagnosed with cancer. Early detection dramatically increases survival rates, with up to 90% of patients surviving five years if cancers are caught in the earliest stages.
NHS officials hope this device will ease pressure on hospitals and improve outcomes for those needing urgent diagnosis. Janet Hennessy, 76, who used the app in a recent trial, praised the device: “When you have to wait weeks for results, it’s nerve-wracking. This device lets you get answers so quickly—it’s a real game-changer.”
Ajith George, a consultant head and neck surgeon, stressed the device’s importance: “With cancer referrals rising but diagnoses remaining steady, it’s essential we focus on patients needing urgent care. This new pathway makes a big difference.”
This device is part of a broader shift in the NHS’s approach, aiming to harness new technology to move care from hospitals into communities, making diagnosis faster, more convenient, and less invasive for patients.
