Introduction
Lung health checks will take place over the telephone, but you may also be invited to see a Nurse and for a lung scan. These will be in convenient community locations, so they are local and easy to access. This Is not a self-referral programme and you will be invited for your lung health check by letter.
Most people will find their lungs are working fine. Some people may benefit from further tests or treatment either from their GP or hospital doctors. When it comes to lung health, spotting problems early can make a huge difference.
How does it work?
- If you are aged 55-74 years and registered with a GP, you will receive an invite letter through the post in a yellow envelope from the NHS. This Is not a self-referral programme and you will be invited for your lung health check by letter.
- A patient care advisor will call you within 14 days to complete your assessment over the telephone, which will take approximately 15 minutes.
- During the telephone call you will be asked questions about your overall lung health, lifestyle, family, and medical history.
- You may then be invited to have a lung CT scan. This checks for early signs of lung cancer.
- Scans take place on mobile vans in community locations, so they are local and easy to access.
- Your results will be sent to you by letter and if a follow up is needed the team will contact you to talk to you about what the next steps are. In the majority of cases, no further action is needed.
- If your lungs are fine, you will be offered another health check in 2 years to see whether anything has changed.
Why is it important
- Lung cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer in the UK and it is commonly diagnosed too late as there are often no symptoms at an early stage.
- Lung health checks will help save lives by identifying lung cancer at an earlier stage, when it is much more treatable and there is a higher chance of survival.
- If you are a current or former smoker you are at higher risk of lung conditions and by screening these issues, they can be treatable.
- Attending a lung health check can help find issues early before symptoms occur. A 30 minute appointment could save your life.
Participant and Clinician Stories
Slough resident, Pete, had a diagnosis of early stage lung cancer picked up through the Targeted Lung Health Check and follow up tests. He had a lobectomy (a surgical procedure where a lobe of the lung is removed) with no further treatment required to date.
Slough resident, Christine, describes her experience of having a Targeted Lung Health Check.
Sindy Gill, lung cancer clinical nurse specialist at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, says it is vital to attend the Targeted Lung Health Check has it could potentially save your life.
Dr Hussein Chrief, respiratory consultant at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, talks about the importance of taking up your offer of a target lung health check.
Dr Siobhan Green, radiology consultant Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust says the Targeted Lung Health Check identifies lung cancer early which allows for more treatment options with a view to a cure.
When we will contact you?
Farnborough
If you are registered with the following GP Practices, you will be contacted from June 2024:
- Alexander House
- Voyager
- Giffard Drive
- Jenner House
- North Camp
- Mayfield
This Is not a self-referral programme and you will be invited for your lung health check by letter throughout the year.
Smoking Cessation
If you are a current smoker, you will be offered the opportunity to be referred for smoking cessation advice.
Privacy Notice
What happens to your data? The Privacy Notice describes what we do with your data, please read carefully:
Privacy Notice
FAQs
Yes, please contact us and we can arrange for this to be sent to you. Translation and interpretation services can also be arranged for scan appointments, including British Sign Language.
- Slough: 01293 363732; cs.lunghealthcheck@nhs.net
Yes, please let the bookings team know in advance, they can arrange for you to have a Nurse appointment instead of a telephone call and a British Sign Language interpreter is available.
Slough: 01293 363732; cs.lunghealthcheck@nhs.netYes. Please contact the bookings team in advance and they can send the Easyread version of the information leaflet and letter. We will happily make extra time available with the Nurse and on the mobile unit to ensure people are not rushed and understand the process. We are willing to make any reasonable adjustments and allowances for example, carers attending, quiet times.
- Slough: 01293 363732; cs.lunghealthcheck@nhs.net
We understand that some symptoms of lung cancer are like those of coronavirus. It is important to look out for anything that is unusual for you. If you notice any of the following, without coronavirus symptoms, please contact your GP as soon as possible:
- Unexplained persistent cough for three weeks or more
- Unexplained persistent breathlessness
- Fatigue lasting four or more weeks
- Persistent or recurrent chest infection
- Unexplained weight loss
- Appetite loss