Humber, Coast and Vale Cancer Alliance has secured funding for the further roll-out of targeted lung health checks across the region.
From Summer 2022, some 45,000 past and current smokers, aged 55- to under-75 in North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, will be invited to a lung health check by their GP.
Those invited will have an initial phone assessment with a specially-trained health care professional. If the assessment finds the person to be at high risk, they will be offered a low dose CT scan of the lungs for further investigation.
A lung health check is a simple MOT for the lungs. It takes around 30 minutes and is available to people in the 55- to 74 age-range who live within North and North East Lincolnshire, are registered with a local GP, and are a current or previous smoker.
The expansion of lung health checks aims to identify an estimated 440 cases of lung cancer earlier than otherwise would have been the case.
We have already seen the positive impact of the service has had for patients since the first pilot site was launched in Hull in January 2020. Since then, we have welcomed some 5,000 participants to the service, with more than 2,500 of those receiving a CT scan.
In November, it was great to welcome colleagues from across the region (and beyond) to MKM Stadium in Hull to learn from the delivery of lung health checks in the city and on tour via the mobile unit.
The expansion of lung health checks across the HCV Partnership region will benefit thousands, providing an opportunity for more and earlier interventions. The service will also help to improve the populations’ health by offering free one-stop smoking advice and support to current smokers.
The Humber, Coast and Vale Cancer Alliance will work with its partners across North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire to support the delivery of lung health checks. We will also establish working groups to support colleagues and staff working across the partnership will be help us raise awareness and encourage uptake of the service.
Lung health checks are really important, and many people have received early diagnosis and treatment that is life-saving. One case study is Danny and his wife Christine.
Danny and Christine’s story
Danny and Christine were invited for a lung health check appointment in Hull in January 2020. From this check Danny was diagnosed and treated for lung cancer. Christine received a check and was reassured that her lungs were in good working order. As a result of the lung health checks and Danny’s diagnosis, they both also received help to stop smoking.
Their story just one example among many, showing how lung health checks really benefit people within the targeted regions such as Hull and how others in North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire can benefit from attending their lung health check too.
You can find out more about Danny and Christine’s lung health check experience in the video here.
We look forward to working with our partners to extend the reach of this service and introducing the lung health checks into North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire’s community.