A large white truck housing the Targeted Lung Health Check truck parked in a car park in Greater Manchester. Words on the side of the truck are the words: "Targeted Lung Health Check Programme" and "Catching lung cancer early can make a big difference. For more information please come inside and talk to our team."

Lung MOTS for past and current smokers aged 55-74 years have now started for people registered with a GP practice in Northenden and Brooklands.

The Lung Health Checks help spot lung cancer early often before people have any symptoms.

The mobile Targeted Lung Health Check clinic is based at Wythenshawe Forum. Current and former smokers aged 55-74 will be sent an invite by letter or text inviting them to come for a free Lung Health Check.

Invitation letters and text messages will be sent out to smokers and former smokers aged 55-74 years based at the following GP surgeries over the next few weeks:

▶️ Northenden Group Practice

▶️ The Park Medical Centre

▶️ Brooklands Medical Practice

▶️ Northern Moor Medical Practice

▶️ Woodlands Medical Practice

Patients who meet the criteria will be invited to an NHS mobile clinic based in the car park at Wythenshawe Forum, Simonsway, Wythenshawe, Manchester, M22 5RX for their Lung Health Check. The clinic will operate 6 days a week from 8am to 8pm to ensure that appointments are accessible to everyone who’s invited.

More than 2000 people registered with a GP in Wythenshawe have already attended in April and May. It is hoped the checks will 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.

Dr Peter Jordan, GP based at Northenden Group Practice and neighbourhood lead for Northenden and Brooklands, said:

“We know these checks have already saved many lives in Greater Manchester by catching lung cancer at an early stage when it can be cured.

“So it is very important to take up your invitation for a lung health check when it arrives in the post or by text message – it really could save your life.”

Dr Zammad Chishti, a GP from Woodlands Medical Practice and Primary Care Network Cancer Lead for Northenden and Brooklands, said:

“The survival rate for lung cancer significantly increases if it’s caught in the early stages. You might feel fine, but if you are a past or current smoker it is still really important to go for the check-up.

“If you can’t make the appointment time there’s a number on your letter to phone up and arrange another time. The clinic is open from 8am until 8pm Monday to Saturday to help make it easier for people to access.”

A large white truck housing the Targeted Lung Health Check truck parked in a car park in Greater Manchester. Words on the side of the truck are the words: People 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.

Most visitors to the Lung Health Checks will get reassurance that everything is OK or be referred to get help to stop smoking.

Greater Manchester has one of the highest mortality rates for lung cancer in England. 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.

Lung cancer can often be caught too late as there are rarely symptoms at the earlier stages. The programme is designed to check those most at risk of developing lung cancer in order to spot signs earlier, at the stage when it’s much more treatable and ultimately saving more lives.

Patients in Northenden and Brooklands will be contacted by letter or text message. For more information on the Targeted Lung Health Check programme please visit www.mft.nnhs.uk/lunghealthcheck

If you have concerning symptoms should speak to their GP who will be able to refer you for tests if needed. You can read about symptoms of lung cancer here Lung cancer – Symptoms – NHS (www.nhs.uk)