Lung Cancer Screening - NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin

General Information

The national Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) programme is operated by NHS England and is contributing to the NHS Long Term Plan to improve early diagnosis and survival for those diagnosed with cancer.

The LCS programme targets those most at risk of developing lung cancer, i.e. people aged 55-74 years who have a history of smoking.

The LCS programme aims to find lung cancer early, sometimes before someone has symptoms:

Approximately three quarters of people who are diagnosed with lung cancer through the programme are caught at an early stage (stages 1 or 2), when lung cancer is easier to treat.
Without such early intervention, less than a third of lung cancers are caught at an early stage.

Beginning in September 2025, the roll-out of the LCS Programme across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (STW) will be phased over 4 years, starting in areas with the highest levels of smoking and lung cancer prevalence and deprivation - see Programme roll-out tables below.

To support the delivery of the STW LCS Programme, NHS STW has appointed Alliance Medical (working in partnership with Xyla Healthcare and TMC) as its LCS service provider. If you have any questions, concerns or feedback, please contact the Alliance Medical support team:

Phone: 0330 236 8484 (phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am - 7pm, and Saturday, 9am - 5pm)

Email: xyla.stwlungcancerscreening@nhs.net

Programme History

The programme originally launched in 2019 as the Targeted Lung Health Check (TLHC) programme with ten pilot projects from Integrated Care Boards who had some of the highest rates of mortality from lung cancer.

In June 2023, it was announced that the TLHC programme would be rolled out nationally, covering the total eligible population by 2028.

In September 2024, the National Cancer Team announced that the TLHC programme would transition to become the national Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) programme by April 2025.

The LCS programme’s national roll-out continues - there is now at least one site live in each of the 21 Cancer Alliances.

Benefits to Participants

LCS helps us to get ahead of lung cancer, sometimes before symptoms start.

People diagnosed with early-stage disease may also benefit from less invasive treatments, such as keyhole surgery.

Many people diagnosed through the programme do not need additional treatment, such as chemotherapy.

All participants are given advice on how they can improve their overall lung health.

Participants who are still smoking are offered advice on stopping smoking at their Lung Health Check and a referral to their local Stop Smoking Service.

Find out more by watching this short video: Why should you attend even if you feel well

Programme Roll-out

Participants for the STW LCS programme will be organised into cohorts, so that each cohort can be provided with a convenient CT scanning location providing ease of access and good public transport links.

Follow this link to view the rollout schedule.

What happens during the screening process?

Eligible participants, identified through GP records, will be sent a letter informing them that they have been selected to receive a Lung Health Check (LHC).

Along with the letter, each participant will receive an information leaflet so that they can make an informed choice.

If the eligible participant has not responded to the letter, they will receive a reminder letter and a telephone call to help them to arrange a convenient LHC appointment date.

During this LHC appointment, which will be conducted via a telephone call, participants will be asked a series of questions about their lifestyle, breathing, family and medical history; they will also be asked to verify their height, weight and smoking status (past and current) – any participant identified as a current smoker will be offered a referral to their nearest Local Authority Stop Smoking Service.

From the information gathered at their LHC, a risk score will then be calculated for each participant.

Any participants receiving a low-risk score will exit the LCS programme at that point.

Those receiving a high-risk score (i.e. those more likely to have lung cancer now or in the future) will be invited to attend a face-to-face clinical review and receive a low dose CT scan. To find out more about CT scans, watch this short video: What is a CT scan

The result of the scan will then determine what happens next, i.e.:

People with suspected cancer will be referred into the appropriate suspected cancer assessment and diagnosis pathway.
If no abnormality is found a person will be invited back for subsequent scans every two years, until they are over the age of 74, at which point they will age-out of the programme.
Some people may require further surveillance scans, e.g. to monitor the growth of a small nodule. They will be invited back for a scan at regular intervals (i.e. at 3 months and 12 months following the initial scan).
Some people may have a scan that shows signs of another problem (not cancer) that requires medical advice. Depending on the type and severity of these findings, participants may either receive a referral to Secondary Care or be advised to contact their GP for further support.

Each Participant, along with their GP, will be informed of their LCS results and outcome by standard letter. If a condition is identified through the LCS programme that requires critical or urgent medical attention, the Participant will also be informed by telephone.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Information and promotional assets for GPs and stakeholders

Useful links

General Information

Programme History

Benefits to Participants

Programme Roll-out

Click on the following headings to find out more

Information and Promotional Assets for all Stakeholders

Information and Promotional Assets for GPs

Videos/Digital Assets for GP Practice Patients

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Lung Cancer

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