Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) is now live across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and forms part of the national LCS programme whose ambition is to achieve full coverage across England by 2030. The Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin LCS service is being delivered by Alliance Medical working in partnership with Xyla Elective Care and Telemedicine Clinic and builds on their successful delivery of LCS services in other regions.  

The LCS programme helps to save lives by detecting lung cancer at an early stage – often before symptoms appear – when treatment is most effective. To ensure that the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin LCS programme achieves the greatest impact from the outset, it is initially focusing on communities with the highest levels of deprivation, smoking rates and lung cancer prevalence before rolling out more widely across the county over the next four years.  

Following Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin LCS programme’s official launch on 1st December, eligible participants who are aged 55–74 and have ever smoked are being invited to a personalised Lung Health Check delivered by specialist nurses over the phone. Those participants identified during their Lung Health Check as being at high-risk of having or developing lung cancer are then offered a low-dose CT scan, with follow-up scans every two years if needed. Overall, around 62,000 people will be invited to participate across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. 

Mobile CT units are now being deployed directly within our local communities, offering up to 40 scans per day in accessible, modern facilities with good parking, lift and ramp access, and interpreter services are provided when required. So far, the LCS programme has performed over 850 CT scans. The programme has now started to report the outcomes of CT scans delivered, meaning thousands of eligible residents are already starting to benefit from this potentially life-saving service. 

In addition to screening, the LCS programme also supports healthier lifestyles. People who currently smoke are being offered a referral to local stop smoking services, whose expert support includes provision of free nicotine replacement therapy. 

As CT scans are now underway and invitations continue to roll out, residents are strongly encouraged to take up the offer of a Lung Health Check if invited – it could make all the difference. To find out more, click here.