Car park lung checks in North Kirklees could save lives

The targeted scheme will focus on smokers and ex-smokers aged 55 - 74 and registered with a GP in North Kirklees, to focus resources on those most at risk.

In total, 27 local GP practices will offer people the opportunity to attend a lung health check appointment to identify whether their potential risk means they need a CT scan. There are around 19,000 people in Kirklees who are eligible.

Dr Khalid Naeem, a GP from Mount Pleasant Medical Centre, Batley and Chair of NHS Kirklees CCG, said: “It's a simple process and most people won’t need any further investigation. But the check could help us find around 150 cancers at an early stage, when the outcomes are much better.”

The lung health check takes place in two stages. Invitations are sent via text message and people will be asked to have a phone appointment with a specially trained health care professional, who will undertake a cancer risk assessment. If the assessment finds the person to be at high risk, they are offered a low dose CT scan of the lungs for further investigation.

Painless scan takes minutes

Dr Naeem continued: “CT scans will be available in easy to reach places like the car park at Tesco in Batley. The scan is painless and takes just a couple of minutes, so we’re hoping by making it as convenient as possible, people will be able to access the service easily.”

Supporting the scheme in North Kirklees are Angela Oldroyd from Birstall, Edward Jennings from Dewsbury and Nadeem Raja, general manager of the Al-Hikmah centre in Batley.

Angela, 55, gave up smoking five years ago. She said: ”Going for a lung health check is vital.”

The scheme will run for 15 months and is part of a national targeted lung health check programme across England.

More information is available at https://lunghealthcheckaware.co.uk