Smokers and former smokers aged 55-74 years based at doctors’ surgeries in parts of Oldham will be invited for a lung health check this summer.
The quick, free checks can help find lung cancer at an early stage – before you might have any symptoms – when it is much more treatable and help save lives.
The mobile clinic will initially be parked at Tesco, Featherstall Road North, Oldham
Most visitors to the lung health checks will get reassurance that everything is OK or be referred to get help to stop smoking.
The checks are currently in the process of being rolled out across Greater Manchester including in Oldham. At first the will checks will be available to current or former shisha or cigarette smokers, aged 55-74 based at the following GP practices from mid-July.
Oldham Central:
- St Mary’s Medical Centre
- The Chowdhury Practice
- Oldham Family Practice
- Hopwood House Medical Practice
- Alexandra Group Med Practice
- Greenbank Medical Practice
- Jalal Practice
- Perkins Practice
- Glodwick Medical Practice
- John Street Medical Practice
- Lindley House Health Centre
The mobile clinic will be based at Tesco, Featherstall Road North, Oldham OL9 6BW.
By September the checks will become available to smokers and ex-smokers aged 55-74 based at the following GP practices:
Oldham South:
- Oldham Medical Services
- Quayside Medical Practice
- Medlock Medical Practice
- Hill Top Surgery
- Hollinwood Medical Practice
And it will move to be based at Tesco Failsworth, Ashton Road West, Failsworth, Manchester M35 0EJ.
Patients who are invited for a lung health check will firstly talk to specialist nurse where they will answer some health and lifestyle questions which will determine whether they are ‘high’ or ‘low’ risk. If deemed high risk, they will be offered a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan of their lungs for further investigation on the same day and be enrolled into the programme.
Dr Brian Lewis, a GP based at St Mary’s Medical Centre and Clinical Director for Oldham Central Primary Care Network, said: “Our Lung Health Checks help the NHS to spot any lung cancer symptoms earlier, when it is much more treatable.
“If you’re registered with a doctor mentioned on the list from the Oldham area, are a smoker or used to smoke either shish or cigarettes, you’ll be sent an invite through the post or via text message.
“Please do come along for your appointment. You’ll have a chat with a nurse and fill out a questionnaire to look at your risk. About half of the people who visit may also need a low-dose scan which we will also do on the truck.
“It will most likely offer you some reassurance. But it could save your life!”
The Lung Health checks in parts of Oldham are the latest phase of the Greater Manchester Targeted Lung Health Check Programme – a drive to help improve earlier diagnosis of lung cancer and save more lives. The programme is jointly organised by the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. There checks will be rolled out further in the coming months and years to ensure that all eligible participants are invited.
So far more than 500 patients have been diagnosed with lung cancer as a result of the Lung Health Checks in Greater Manchester, however, almost 80% of these patients were diagnosed at stage 1 or 2 meaning they were more likely to be eligible for curative treatment.
People diagnosed with lung cancer at the earliest stage are nearly 20 times more likely to survive for five years than those whose cancer is caught late.
Patients will be contacted by letter or via text message.
- For more information on the Targeted Lung Health Check programme please visit www.mft.nnhs.uk/lunghealthcheck
- If you have received your invitation but missed your appointment, please call 0161 529 0900 to rebook.
- If you have concerning symptoms you should speak to your GP who will be able to refer you for tests if needed. You can read about symptoms of lung cancer here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lung-cancer/symptoms/
