Free lung health checks are coming to Burnley

Free NHS Targeted Lung Health Checks are coming to Burnley this Autumn and drop-in events aimed at raising awareness of the programme will be held this week.

Targeted Lung Health Checks (TLHC) are described as a free ‘MOT for your lungs’ and are helping the NHS to spot lung cancer and other issues earlier when they are easier to treat.

A lung specialist nurse will be on hand to chat to people at the drop-in event and will be accompanied by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation’s ‘mega lungs’ to help show the importance of maintaining healthy lungs.

The first event will be held at Tesco superstore on Centenary Way on Friday 19 August between 10am and 4pm, with further events at Tesco Extra in Finsley Gate on Tuesday 23 (10am to 4pm), and Asda in Princess Way on Friday 26 (10am to 4pm).

The Lancashire and South Cumbria TLHC programme launched last summer in Blackburn with Darwen, before expanding to Blackpool and Rossendale. More than 3,000 people in Rossendale alone have already come forward after receiving an invite endorsed by their GP practice since May.

Soon people living in Burnley who are aged between 55 and 74 and have ever smoked, will be invited to attend this free check to see if their lungs are in good working order. 

The NHS Lung Health Check takes place in two stages. Once you accept the offer to take part, you will receive a telephone call and a specially trained healthcare professional will ask you a series of questions. This will take approximately 30 minutes. As part of the check, some people may be offered a low-dose CT scan at a later date, if any risks have been identified.

Dr Neil Smith, GP lead and cancer director for Lancashire and South Cumbria, said: “I am pleased we will soon be inviting eligible people to take part in the Targeted Lung Health Checks 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.”

Paula Chadwick, chief executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, is in support of these events. She added: “We encourage anyone who has received an invitation for a lung health check or just wants to improve their lung health, to pop down to the event at Asda, in Burnley, on Friday 19 August. We appreciate some people can feel a little nervous about attending an appointment so if you have any questions or concerns, the team are here to answer them.

“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 of people require further investigation. 

Cathie Bowker, aged 70, from Lancashire, recently took part in the targeted lung health check. She 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 can often be caught too late as there are rarely symptoms at the earlier stages. The programme is designed to check those most at risk of developing lung cancer in order to spot signs earlier, at the stage when it’s much more treatable and ultimately saving more lives.

The Targeted Lung Health Check programme estimates it will diagnose around 9,000 cancers earlier than would otherwise have been within the 43 areas running the checks. This offers the opportunity for earlier interventions, including curative surgery, which will save people’s lives. Stop smoking advice will also be offered to support current smokers.

The programme is due to be rolled out in Burnley in September, with other areas of East Lancashire to follow. More information on the Targeted Lung Health Check programme is available at: https://lungcheckslsc.co.uk/