Residents in Warsop are benefiting from a free NHS lung scan as part of a pilot scheme to help diagnose lung cancer earlier in smokers aged between 55 and 74.

The mobile lung scanner will be situated in the Mansfield District Council car park on Church Street in Warsop until Tuesday, 18th May, and will be providing CT scans for local patients who have been identified as potentially at risk of developing lung cancer.

The initiative being led locally by the Mid-Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) and the Nottinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group is part of a pilot scheme targeting areas that have higher than average cases of lung cancer, and later than average diagnosis of the disease leading to poorer outcomes.

The initiative has initially focused on patients at the Meden Medical Centre and Riverbank GP surgeries in Warsop, with any patients aged between 55 and 74 who have a record of ever having smoked being invited by letter for an initial screening conversation.  Patients are then assessed and offered an invitation for the chest scan if they meet the identified risk factors.

The scans will look to diagnose signs of lung cancer much earlier, enabling earlier treatment and much better outcomes for patients with a greater chance of surviving.  The programme also aims to detect other respiratory diseases at an earlier stage, such as COPD and increase smoking quit rates.

Dr Thilan Bartholomeuz, clinical director of the project and clinical lead for the Mid Nottinghamshire ICP, said: “Unfortunately we know that we have comparatively high levels of smoking in Mansfield and Ashfield, and we know that we have poorer outcomes than other parts of the country when it comes to lung cancer, which is why we are really pleased that we have been identified as one of the ten pilot areas nationwide for the lung checks programme.

“I urge anyone who has received the initial invitation letter to make themselves available for the conversation with our team, and take up the offer of the lung health check.  Even if you don’t think you have any symptoms of cancer at the moment it can still be present.

“It is clear that the earlier we can identify the signs of lung cancer, the better your chances of survival will be.

“Finally, if you do have symptoms of lung cancer, including a persistent cough, coughing up blood, persistent breathlessness, unexplained tiredness or weight loss or an ache or a pain when breathing or coughing, please don’t wait for an invitation for a scan and talk directly to your GP.”

The NHS Lung Check programme in Mansfield and Ashfield is currently linked to patients at Meden Medical Centre and Riverbank GP, with the intention of rolling out to GP practices across Mansfield and Ashfield in the coming months.

For further information please visit www.malunghealthcheck.nhs.uk.