Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Publish date:
13 November 2024
Lung screening programme under way in Northumberland and North Tyneside
A screening programme aimed at finding lung cancer early is now underway across Northumberland and North Tyneside.
Eligible patients will be invited to take part in the NHS targeted lung health checks scheme on a rolling basis from now through to 2027.
The programme is for current or former smokers aged 55 to 74. The checks will be delivered by specialist staff at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
As well as talking through potential symptoms with dedicated lung nurses, some patients will be invited to undergo a low-dose CT scan.
Lung cancer currently causes more deaths than any other cancer in the UK. However, it is curable if caught early. There are often no symptoms at the earlier stages of lung cancer, and it is regularly diagnosed late. Spotting problems early can make a big difference, and could save your life.
David Cooper, consultant respiratory physician for Northumbria Healthcare, said: “The difference in treatment and outcomes if we find lung cancer early is huge, so I would urge people to have their checks when they are contacted by the programme.
“We will be offering a check to everyone eligible in Northumberland and North Tyneside, but it will take some time so I would also ask people to be patient with us. We will get to you.
“However, if you have any concerns about symptoms such as a cough you can’t get rid of, coughing up blood, being short of breath, or an ache or pain when breathing or coughing, please contact your GP as soon as possible.”
In 2019, the North East recorded the highest rate of lung cancer in England with 108 males and 96 females per 100,000. It is important that all smokers or former smokers are recorded as such with their GP, to make sure they get invited to this life-saving programme if between age 55 and 74.
In 2022, Northumbria Healthcare introduced its own screening pilot to detect lung cancer in its early stages. From 420 patients, the team found 18 cancers, 17 of which were in the early stages and able to receive curative treatment.
One of those treated was grandmother of two, Barbara Short, who said: “I wasn’t completely shocked when the scans and biopsy showed that I had lung cancer after I had smoked for so many years. When you hear those words, you imagine the worst, but I’m a positive person and all I could think is that I want to watch my grandchildren grow up.
“I had surgery to remove the cancer and the care I received was outstanding. I feel so grateful that my cancer was caught early. I dread to think what might’ve happened if I hadn’t accepted the offer of an early scan.”
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The targeted lung health checks scheme is part of the NHS Long Term Plan. The North service, which includes Northumberland, North Tyneside, North Cumbria and County Durham, has been selected as part of the roll-out of the programme across the North East and North Cumbria region. The North service has more than 160,000 individuals eligible for a lung health check.
Media contact
Ben O’Connell, external communications manager, Northumbria Healthcare
Benjamin.O’[email protected]
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