Smartphone device speeding up throat cancer tests

The device can send live images to specialists

An adapter which plugs into an iPhone to check for throat cancer is being piloted by the NHS in the West Midlands.

The device, developed by Birmingham-based medical technology company Endoscope-i Ltd, could cut the amount of time patients wait to get a result, the NHS has said.

In trials, the North Midlands University Hospitals NHS Trust found that no cancers were missed when using the kit, with patients receiving their results within 23 hours of their test.

Kyle Jones, 31, is one of those to have been diagnosed at the Royal Stoke Hospital and said: "I'm scared to even think where I'd be or what could have happened without this device."

People suspected of having throat cancer are usually given an endoscopy at hospital, with a camera inserted through the mouth or nose.

The endoscope-i adapter, which can be attached to an iPhone, includes a 32mm lens endoscope eyepiece which allows nurses to capture live images and share them with specialists.

The results can then be fed back to patients within hours.

There are about 250,000 urgent referrals for suspected head and neck cancer each year, according to NHS England.

Of these, 5% are diagnosed with cancer.

National cancer director, Dr Cally Palmer, said the wait for results can be an extremely worrying time and speeding up the process can make a huge difference for people and their families.

Mr Jones, who was admitted for tests after becoming hoarse after singing at a gig, said: "With how fast that my cancer developed after the first appointment to the stage where I needed a big laryngectomy surgery it makes me so grateful that it was picked up and in time and I believe that has saved my life."

Another patient, Janet Hennessy, 76, from Stoke-on-Trent, was also tested using the device and said it was reassuring to be checked over so quickly.

She said: "Even if you think there's nothing there, you're still thinking about it and it worries you and your family."