Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to invest in artificial technologies to aid health diagnosis, particularly in relation to detecting diabetic retinopathy.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) reviewed the use of artificial intelligence technologies, such as automated grading in the NHS Diabetic Eye Screening (DES) Programme, in 2021. At the time, it concluded that this should not be used due to the limited evidence that it provides better health and value for money when compared to manual grading.

We are aware that the UK NSC has received a submission via its annual call process to consider automated retinal image analysis systems in the NHS DES programme. The UK NSC is currently reviewing all annual call proposals. Further information on the annual call process can be found on the GOV.UK website, in an online only format.