The University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust will open its first ‘drop-in’ digital nasendoscopy clinic in May 2026 at the newly established Clinical Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. The service aims to provide rapid reassurance for patients and help detect head and neck cancers early. 
Head and neck cancer often presents with vague symptoms, causing patients to delay seeking medical advice. The new CDC will remove traditional referral barriers, allowing residents from high-risk areas to access fast, specialist assessment without waiting for a GP referral.
Patients attending the clinic will undergo a brief consultation and nasendoscopy. High-quality endoscopic images are securely sent to a consultant head and neck surgeon for review, with results available within 48 hours via the NHS app.
The service uses hyperspectral imaging, capturing a three-dimensional map of light emitted by tissues. While these images appear nonsensical to the human eye, machine learning interprets the data to provide clinically meaningful results.
Developed in collaboration with endoscope-i Ltd and supported by a £600,000 SBRI Healthcare grant, the clinic demonstrates a cost-effective, safe and scalable model for digital ENT diagnostics.
Professor Ajith P George, Consultant Head and Neck Surgeon at UHNM, said: “The drop-in clinic is a crucial step in reducing late presentations of head and neck cancer. By combining digital endoscopy with rapid expert reporting, we can reassure patients quickly and focus resources on those who need urgent care.”
UHNM hopes this innovative model will improve early detection and patient access, paving the way for wider adoption across the NHS.
Look out for further information in a full feature article from Prof George in the Jan/Feb edition of ENT & Audiology News.
