Lung cancer is frequently diagnosed at a later stage than other cancers because often there are no signs or symptoms at an early stage. The Targeted Lung Health Check Programme is a new pilot scheme designed to identify signs of cancer at an early stage when it is much more treatable - ultimately saving move lives.
The Lung Heath Check finds out how well a participant’s lungs are working and hopes to identify problems early. Most of the time no issue is found, but if cancer or other issue is found early, treatment could be simpler and more successful.
If you are aged 55 to 74 and your GP has a record of you being a smoker or having ever smoked you will be invited by letter for your FREE NHS Lung Health Check. Think of it as an MOT for your lungs.
Lung health checks will take place over the telephone, but you may also be invited to see a nurse and for a lung scan. These will be in convenient community locations, so they are local and easy to access.
How does it work?
- If you qualify for a FREE NHS Lung Health Check, you will receive an invite letter through the post.
- This letter will have a date and time where one of our health advisors will call you for your lung health check which will take approximately 15 minutes. If this time is not suitable please call and our team using the below contact details, who will happily rearrange this to a more convenient time.
- During the telephone call you will be asked questions about your overall lung health, lifestyle, family and medical history.
- You may then be invited to have a lung CT scan. This checks for early signs of lung cancer and is called lung cancer screening.
- Scans take place on mobile vans in community locations so they are local and easy to access.
- Your results will be sent to you by letter and if a follow up is needed the team will contact you to talk to you about what the next steps are. In the majority of cases, no further action is needed.
- If your lungs are fine, you will be offered another health check in 2 years to see whether anything has changed.
Why is it important?
- Lung cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer in the UK and it is commonly diagnosed too late as there are often no symptoms at an early stage.
- Lung health checks will help save lives by identifying lung cancer at an earlier stage, when it is much more treatable and there is a higher chance of survival.
- If you are a current or former smoker you are at higher risk of lung conditions and by screening these issues, they can be treatable.
- Attending a lung health check can help find issues early before symptoms occur. A 30 minute appointment could save your life.
Contact details
Swindon
Phone: 01793 378641
Email: swindon.lunghealthcheck@nhs.net
Bath
Phone: 01172 338127
Email: swag.lunghealthcheck@nhs.net