How will I be invited?

You will receive an invitation letter in the post when we are next in your area. Following this you will receive a telephone call to confirm your eligibility and appointment.

Why have I been invited?

Lung checks are offered to people aged 55 to 74 and who smoke or have ever smoked. If you live in an area where we are delivering the checks, you will receive an invitation letter, providing your smoking history is correctly recorded on your GP record.

Why are we offering lung health checks?

There are often no signs or symptoms of lung cancer at an early stage. As a result, sadly seven out of 10 cancer patients are diagnosed too late to be cured. Targeted lung health checks can help diagnose lung cancer early, at a stage where treatment can be simpler and more successful.

What happens at a targeted lung health check?

You will be invited to an initial assessment which usually takes place over the phone.

You will be contacted at the time of your appointment by a nurse who will ask a series of questions about your smoking history, lifestyle and current health and well-being.

The nurse will complete a risk score to assess your risk of getting lung cancer now or in the future. We work out your risk from factors such as your history of smoking, lifestyle factors and your family’s medical history.

If your answers indicate that you are at high risk, you will be offered a low-dose CT scan. The risks and benefits of the CT scan will be explained to you by the nurse, who will help you to choose whether the scan is right for you.

Where are targeted lung health checks being offered?

In Lancashire and South Cumbria, lung health checks are currently being offered in:

  • Blackpool,
  • Blackburn with Darwen
  • East Lancashire
  • Fylde and Wyre.

In 2023, the Government announced that Targeted Lung Health Checks will become a national screening programme. This means that the programme will be rolled out across the whole country over the next few years You can read the announcement here.

I have received an invitation to another CT scan - why?

We offer two-year follow-up scans to everyone who received a clear result at their first Targeted Lung Health Check CT scan.

We strongly encourage anyone who had a clear initial scan to attend their two-year follow-up when invited. Follow-up scans are important to spot any issues that may have developed since your first CT scan.

Letters for follow-up scans are currently being sent to people in Blackpool, Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire, who received their first CT scan two years ago.

Please do come to your appointment – it could be lifesaving.

What can I do to help keep my lungs healthy?

Keep active – Doing small amounts of regular exercise is great for your lungs.

Eat healthily – Eating a healthy and balanced diet will help protect you from infections, and being a healthy weight is good for your lungs.

Stop smoking – Stopping smoking is the most important thing you can do to protect your lungs. It is never too late to stop smoking. We can help you to stop smoking at your lung health check appointment.

Get coughs checked – If you have a regular cough, this can be an early warning sign of lung disease. Don’t ignore the signs and talk to your GP.

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