10,000 Scunthorpe residents to get lung health checks

Expert stop smoking advisors are available to support the 10,000 people in North Lincolnshire who have been invited for a free NHS Lung Health Check.

The NHS Targeted Lung Health Check service, which is helping to save lives through earlier diagnosis of lung cancer and other conditions, is now being offered to eligible participants in Scunthorpe.

This is the first phase roll-out of the programme in North Lincolnshire, in which more than 22,000 people living in the region will receive an invite for a free NHS Targeted Lung Health Check.

A lung health check can help to identify lung cancer and other respiratory diseases early, often before symptoms occur and when treatment could be more successful.

Stopping smoking is the best action you can take to reduce the risk of lung conditions.

Director of Public Health, Diane Lee said: “I am delighted to see the roll out of the Lung Health Check programme across North Lincolnshire and I think it’s brilliant that people can speak to expertly trained stop smoking advisors at the same time, making it a one stop shop for better lung health.

“You don’t need to wait to be invited to a Lung Health Check to access free stop smoking support, our Healthy Lifestyles Team support anyone who would like to quit and it’s free – get in touch today and you could be looking forward to your first Christmas smokefree!”

Eligible participants will have received a letter inviting them to book a telephone assessment with a specially trained respiratory nurse.

Following the assessment, participants may be invited for a low-dose CT scan onboard a high-tech mobile unit at Brumby Hall.

In addition to the scan, participants who currently smoke and would like help to stop can see an expert stop smoking advisor, who will work with them to plan and provide nicotine replacement products to take away the same day.

Cllr Christine Patterson, cabinet member for healthy living and places, said: “It’s never too late to stop smoking, even if you have smoked for years, and you’ll see and feel the benefits very quickly.

“There is a way for everyone to stop, and there is a wealth of help, advice and support for anyone who wants to make that change.”

Louise Cochrane, a stop smoking advisor working with the Lung Health Check team said: “We offer completely non-judgemental support – we know how hard it can be to stop smoking, and we know that most people who have smoked for a long time will have tried to stop before.

“It is so lovely to see so many lifelong smokers who never thought they could give up actually succeed.”

Past and current smokers, aged between 55 and 74, are being invited in phases and eligible participants, who live in Scunthorpe and are registered with one of the following GP practices, will be invited for a lung health check and offered free stop smoking support:

• The Oak Tree Medical Practice
• West Common Lane Teaching Practice
• The Birches Medical Practice
• The Oswald Road Medical Centre
• Ancora Medical Practice
• Cedar Medical Practice
• Ashby Turn Primary Care Partners
• Church Lane Medical Centre
• Cambridge Avenue Medical Centre

Anyone interested in stopping smoking who is either under the age of 55 or over 75 (and hasn’t been invited for a Lung Health Check) can refer themselves free to the North Lincolnshire Healthy Lifestyles Team, either online or by calling 01724 298212. They provide information, support and prescriptions for nicotine replacement products.

Read more about lung health checks on the Lung Health Check site for Humber and North Yorkshire.

(Pictured: The Lung Health Check and Stop Smoking team)