C the Signs – Clinical decision support tool

Improving Cancer Detection in Primary Care with AI: The Impact of C the Signs

C the Signs is an integrated clinical decision-support system that assists healthcare professionals to spot cancer at an earlier stage, when survival rates are highest. The system uses the latest robust  evidence and clinical data to help detect cancer – evaluating tens of thousands of peer-reviewed publications, and only uses data points which have been academically validated.

Late-stage cancer diagnosis significantly impacts patient outcomes and healthcare costs. In the UK, early cancer detection via primary care greatly improves treatment outcomes including survival rates (1).

C the Signs is a validated algorithm that analyses a patient’s electronic medical record (EMIS, SystmOne, Vision) checking for combinations of signs, symptoms, risk factors, clinical markers and other information, to support GPs to make suspected cancer referrals and even suggest an appropriate diagnostic pathway. C the Signs is accessed through a desktop tool bar, with just one click.

Health Innovation East’s support

Health Innovation East initially supported the implementation of C the Signs across 35 GP practices in Ipswich and East Suffolk.

Across these practices, there were 303 registered users in February 2023, with 60% of users in clinical roles and 40% in administrative roles. Health Innovation East provided funding and project management support for an independent real-world evaluation of the innovation, led by Anglia Ruskin University.

The evaluation found that staff rate the tool as highly effective, easy to use. It is also supportive of clinical decisions -particularly through prompts and suggestions to help them consider lesser-known cancers. The evaluation also highlighted areas for improvement to enable wider adoption and spread of C the Signs, such as an enhancing and extending the onboarding process for staff and implementing peer support between high and low users of the tool.

Beginning in December 2024, Health Innovation East are supporting C the Signs with Health Economic Modelling.

“C the Signs first launched in the East of England in 2021, supporting GP practices caring for 100,000 patients. With strong engagement from primary care and invaluable support from Health Innovation East, we’ve been able to significantly expand our reach across the region. C the Signs has played a key role in driving faster, earlier, and more accurate cancer detection in a cost-effective way. Today, we’re supporting over 2 million patients in the East of England and reaching 10 million patients nationally—empowering GP practices to make real strides in early cancer diagnosis and improving patient outcomes.”

Dr Bea Bakshi, CEO & Co-Founder, C the Signs.

A previous evaluation demonstrated a potential net saving of up to £480,071 with a return on investment (ROI) of up to £2.3 for every £1 spent – suggesting significant cost savings through reduced emergency and late-stage treatments if implemented nationally, alongside potential pressure relief on secondary care services.​

Heath Innovation East’s work with C the Signs has contributed to 2 FTE jobs safeguarded and 1 FTE job created.

In a recent Health Innovation Network survey the company suggested £257K of sales was supported by Health Innovation East’s support 2023/24. Additionally, £292,000 was received from NHS England and Wessex Cancer Alliance, with industry providing £30,000 in-kind for evaluation.

C the Signs continues to actively spread and expand throughout the East of England and the rest of the country.

The organisation has recently been accepted onto the inaugural cohort of the White House CancerX Accelerator programme.