Brainomix’s e-Stroke platform, an AI-powered tool that helps doctors to interpret brain scans, has now been deployed across the entire East of England Integrated Stroke Delivery Networks (ISDNs), North and South. The implementation of the software at 9 stroke centres out of the region’s 16 already deployed is part of the ISDNs mission of bringing together specialists from all parts of the stroke pathway to ensure that more people who experience a stroke receive high-quality specialist care, from pre-hospital, through to early supported discharge, community specialist stroke-skilled rehabilitation and life after stroke.

“When a stroke strikes, time literally equates to brain,” noted Dr Paul Guyler, Clinical Director for the East of England ISDNs, and Consultant in Stroke Medicine at Southend University Hospital. “Immediate specialist assessments, imaging and treatments are coordinated in a highly time-sensitive pathway. Every minute saved can dramatically improve a patient’s chance of leaving hospital in good health. The faster we all act, the more of the person we can save.”

Dr Guyler continued: “The procurement and deployment of Brainomix and networked AI across the East of England allows our consultants to access scans and images remotely and securely, meaning that stroke centres can immediately discuss stroke patients together, delivering more consistent treatment decisions and faster patient transfers – particularly to Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as the main comprehensive stroke centre and hub for the region. This will enable more patients to get the right treatment, in the right place, at the right time, to help save lives and prevent people from severe disability.”

Jo Clayden, Senior Programme Manager for East of England ISDNs, also commented on the roll-out of Brainomix e-Stroke across the region: “The project to procure AI across a regional footprint has provided an opportunity for trusts that did not have AI capability to benefit from AI implementation with networked support from both Brainomix and the ISDNs leadership team. AI deployment is enabling speedy image-sharing between our spokes and hubs, both intra-regionally and externally to hubs situated outside the East of England, providing timely patient-centred decisions, and improving access to mechanical thrombectomy.”

Helena Baxter, Head of Cardiovascular Disease and Respiratory (CVDR) Clinical Networks, NHS England, East of England, spoke about the clinical value that the project will bring to stroke patients in the region: “The East of England is committed to providing excellent stroke care and providing access to timely interventions to improve outcomes. This regional project run by the ISDNs involved clinicians and key stakeholders from across the region, working together with industry partners to ensure that the benefits of AI – quick sharing of scans and timely decision-making – are available to all patients across the region.”

Riaz Rahman, VP Healthcare Global at Brainomix, commented from the perspective of the Oxford-based company: “Working with the East of England ISDN Team has been a delight. We came together at the start to thoroughly understand the regional patient flow and stroke pathway needs, to inform how best to deploy our e-Stroke platform, resulting in a position where every thrombectomy-eligible patient can be swiftly flagged and directed towards the appropriate stroke centre, where life-saving treatment and care can be delivered. Covering a patient population exceeding six million, this is truly an exemplar NHS digital project where clinical leadership and world-class, AI-powered technology will positively impact patient care at scale.”

Dawn Monaghan-Patel, AI Project Lead and Quality Improvement Manager for the East of England ISDNs, noted that this digital project has been transformational for the East of England. “e-Stroke AI has enabled connectivity to specialists at different stroke centres across a vast geography through a network of centres. This will improve communication and coordination of stroke patient care not only within region but across boundaries, which was not possible six months ago. Having a clear vision, shared purpose, collaboration from all stakeholders with ISDN leadership has been key to the success of deployment across the region to meet the overall project goals. I am delighted that many more patients will benefit from the use of this technology across our stroke centres.”