Lung health checks for eligible MK residents

Who is being invited for a lung health check?

The checks are currently being offered to:

• Anyone living in areas with a high incidence of lung cancer;
• Who is aged between 55 - 74; and 
• Who is at an increased risk due to their history of smoking – either being a current or former smoker.

How will I hear?

All those eligible for the checks will be contacted by their GP to advise that they make a consultation appointment. Decisions on whether a patient has a scan will be made following the patient’s consultation.

The project will move through the city from surgery area to surgery area as the months progress.

Letters from two GP surgeries (Whaddon and Red House) are currently going out to residents in parts of the Bletchley area, with a view to reviewing patients ahead of scanning which began on Monday 22 January 2024. 

The service will then launch to other GP surgeries across Milton Keynes in the next few months.
 

What can I expect from a lung check?

The initial assessment will take place over the phone or in person with a health professional. During the initial lung health check, you'll be asked some questions about your breathing, overall lung health, lifestyle and family and medical history.

There are three possible results from your lung health check:

• No problems found - your  health professional may find nothing further to investigate and you will be discharged from the lung health check programme. Your GP will be informed. 
• Referral to your GP - if problems with your breathing or lung health are found, you might be referred to your GP. The team will write to your GP so they know about the outcome.
• Offered a scan of your lungs - If you are assessed to be at a higher risk of lung cancer now or in the future you will be offered a scan of your lungs (a Low Dose CT scan). 
• These lung health checks are aimed at checking people’s lung health. There is no pressure to stop smoking, but if you wish to take that step, NHS nurses will chat this through with you and arrange further support for you.

The best thing you can do to have healthy lungs is to stop smoking (if you are a current smoker). It’s never too late to stop smoking, and the longer it is from when you stop, the healthier your lungs become. If you need help to stop smoking, you may want to contact your local stop smoking services. You can speak to your doctor, ask at your GP practice or find your local service at NHS Quit Smoking.

Why have a lung health check?

Targeted Lung Health Checks are designed to save more lives by finding problems early when treatment could be simpler and more successful. Three out of four people are diagnosed with lung cancer late due to there often being no signs or symptoms at an early stage. If diagnosed early, 88% of people will survive lung cancer for one year or more.

While the focus of the screening is to identify lung cancer, the checks will be able to determine if the patient has any other long-term health conditions which may require intervention or management (eg Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

The programme first launched back in 2019 and since then, more than 1 million people have been invited to come forward for a free lung health check. In the East of England, 10 sites have been set up across the region, including in Great Yarmouth, Southend, Harlow, Luton and Peterborough.

As part of the expansion plans, a new site will be set up at the ASDA store in Bletchley, Milton Keynes, allowing local residents the opportunity to be tested.

Find out more on the Milton Keynes University Hospital website

Photo by Robina Weermeijer, Unsplash