More than 7,000 people are set to be invited for a free lung cancer screening appointment.
The Lung Cancer Screening programme is now being offered to eligible people living in Bridlington. The scheme aims to help save lives through earlier diagnosis of lung cancer and other conditions.
Previous and current smokers, aged between 55 and 74, will be invited in phases. Eligible participants who live in Bridlington and are registered with a GP practice will receive a letter inviting them to book a telephone assessment with a specially trained respiratory nurse.
It follows the first-phase roll out of the programme across the East Riding of Yorkshire in 2023. It saw more than 2,700 people living in Withernsea receive and appointment.
Since then, the programme has seen people from Goole, Howden and Cottingham invited for their screening appointment. Following a telephone assessment, people may be invited for a low-dose CT scan onboard a high-tech mobile unit.
Lung Cancer screening can help to identify lung cancer, as well as other respiratory diseases, early – often before symptoms occur and when treatment could be more successful. Dr Stuart Baugh, Programme Director for the NHS Lung Cancer Screening programme in Humber and North Yorkshire, said: “The Lung Cancer Screening programme is a vital step towards better outcomes for people at highest risk of respiratory diseases.
“Not only does the programme help to provide most people with reassurance that their lungs are currently healthy, it also helps to detect any lung conditions early and supports people to stop smoking if they wish to do so.
“Lung Cancer Screening first launched in Hull in January 2020 and since then eligible participants from North and North East Lincolnshire, as well as the East Riding of Yorkshire, have been invited. As we continue to roll out the service across Humber and North Yorkshire, we are pleased to continue the process for participants in Bridlington.”
Jenny Piper, Associate Medical Director for Cancer at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re delighted to see the launch of the Lung Cancer Screening programme in Bridlington. Lung cancer screening can save lives. By detecting cancer at an earlier stage — often before symptoms appear — we can offer treatment sooner, when it’s more likely to be successful. This programme offers real hope and reassurance, particularly for those most at risk. It’s a vital step in improving outcomes and saving lives in our community.”
Find out more about Lung Cancer Screening at www.lungcancerscreening.org.uk.
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