NHS Lung Health Checks are coming to Burnley

A potentially life-saving health check aimed at former smokers is coming to Burnley after a successful rollout in other parts of Lancashire and South Cumbria.

From October 2022, current or former smokers aged between 55 and 74 will be invited to attend this free check, described as a free ‘MOT for your lungs’.

Targeted Lung Health Checks (TLHC) are helping the NHS to spot lung cancer and other issues early when they are easier to treat.

The Lancashire and South Cumbria TLHC programme was launched in April 2021 in Blackburn with Darwen, before expanding to Blackpool and East Lancashire.

More than 17,500 people have already benefited from this service, with some receiving life-saving treatment for conditions which may have otherwise gone undiagnosed.

The checks take place in two stages, with a 10-minute consultation with a trained healthcare professional followed by a low dose CT scan for those identified of being at risk of lung cancer.

Dr Neil Smith, GP clinical lead for cancer in Lancashire and South Cumbria, said: “I am pleased we will soon be inviting eligible people to take part in the Targeted Lung Health Checks programme in Burnley. Thousands of people in other parts of Lancashire have been given valuable peace of mind by taking part in the programme and where we have found potential health issues it is helping us to treat them sooner.

“Early diagnosis saves lives, so if you are contacted by a member of the team offering you a lung health check, please take it.

“It is so important we do everything we can to look after our lungs and these simple check-ups are a brilliant way to make sure everything is ok. And if there is anything wrong, we are catching it at the earliest opportunity.”

While most people who take part receive a clean bill of health, a small minority require further treatment.

Cathie Bowker, aged 70, from Darwen, is currently on the mend following treatment for lung cancer after being invited to a check.

Cathie said: “I almost didn’t accept the invite at first because I stopped smoking over 20 years ago but I’m so glad I did. Based on my answers to their questions, I was recommended for a scan which found I had lung cancer. It came as a real shock as I had no symptoms.

“Thankfully it was caught early, and I am now on the mend. I would recommend anyone who is offered a lung health check to take it. It really can save lives.”

Lung cancer rarely presents any symptoms in its early stages, making it much more difficult to detect and treat effectively, and the programme is designed to check those most at risk earlier.

The Targeted Lung Health Check programme is currently available in 43 areas of the UK and estimates that it will diagnose around 9,000 early-stage cancers, offering the opportunity for earlier interventions, including curative surgery, which will save lives. Stop smoking advice will also be offered to support current smokers.

The programme is due to be rolled across East Lancashire over the next two years. More information on the Targeted Lung Health Check programme is available at: https://lungcheckslsc.co.uk/.