More lung checks rolled out

10,000 people in south west done so far

More people in the south west than ever before will be invited for a lung health check.

Lung checks are now available to people in Plymouth as part of an NHS scheme in the south west which aims to improve earlier diagnosis of lung cancer and save more lives.

Nearly 10,000 people in the region have already been checked.

The Targeted Lung Health Check Programme gives current and past smokers the chance of having lung cancer detected and treated earlier.

With one of the highest mortality rates for lung cancer in England, Plymouth is one of 50 places nationally, to offer the Targeted Lung Health Check programme. As of yesterday (Monday 20 November), scans started in the north of Plymouth.

People who are current or past smokers will be invited by letter by their GP to have a lung health check. The checks will take place in two stages.

The first is an initial phone assessment with a specially trained health care professional.

If the assessment finds the person to be at high risk, they are offered a low dose CT scan of the lungs for further investigation.

The initiative means more than 47,500 past and current smokers aged 55 to 74 in Plymouth will be invited to a lung health.

Nearly 10,000 people in the region have already been checked.

Councillor Mary Aspinall, Plymouth City Council Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care: 

“Bringing this lung check programme to Plymouth makes it is easier than ever to get checked out. We’re urging anyone who gets a letter from their GP to join the thousands of others – and get in touch for your check.

"It's also a good reminder for anyone who smokes to think about cutting down and stopping by contacting our local stop smoking support service, One You Plymouth.”

For more information on the Targeted Lung Health Check programme, click here.