Lung Cancer Screening – the new name for NHS Targeted Lung Health Checks

The NHS Targeted Lung Health Check service is now known as Lung Cancer Screening.

Although there is a new name, nothing else has changed. Lung cancer screening aims to detect lung cancer sooner, often before symptoms develop and when treatment is more likely to be successful.

The new name is consistent with the other national NHS screening programmes and follows research that showed it would help improve understanding of the programme and its purpose.

The Northern Cancer Alliance and North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board lead the lung cancer screening programme in the North East and North Cumbria. Nearly 600 lung cancers have so far been diagnosed thanks to the checks, with more than 195,000 people being invited for them.

Dr Liz Fuller, the Alliance’s Clinical Lead for Lung Cancer Screening, said: “While there is a new name, the aims of lung cancer screening remain unchanged. It’s about detecting cancer at an early stage, when it can still be cured.

“If you are offered a lung health check, please take it up – that 15-minute appointment could save your life.”

People in the North East and North Cumbria aged 55 to 74 are gradually being offered a lung health check if:

• They are registered with a GP practice
• Their GP record shows that they smoke or have ever smoked

To find out more information and further details about the checks in specific areas, click here or contact the team at nencicb.tlhc@nhs.net