Published on: 2 December 2022

Last week mobile trucks made their way to Parkgate Retail World in Rotherham in a bid to help detect lung cancer earlier, as well as identifying other health conditions such as lung disease and high blood pressure.

Working with NHS organisations in Rotherham, Alliance Medical, Ashfield Engage and Telemedicine Clinic will provide a new Targeted Lung Health Check service, encouraging almost 26,000 people in Rotherham to take up the invitation.

Heidi Hiscox Lung Health Check Services Manager at Alliance Medical said: Alliance Medical are delighted to be the chosen provider of the Lung Heath Check Programme in Rotherham.  Working closely with our partners, Ashfield Engage and Telemedicine Clinic, we are proud to provide quicker access to lung checks to the local community, helping the people of Rotherham to live longer, healthier lives.”

Rotherham has been chosen to implement Targeted Lung Health Checks due to the number of people in the area that have ever smoked. The Rotherham programme will involve a phased and joint roll out with Barnsley between October 2022 and March 2024, with a second phase taking place to allow for any further scans and follow up appointments, making a total of four years.

The Targeted Lung Health Check programme could help improve lung cancer survival rates across the borough with a recent study showing that checks such as these can potentially pick up changes earlier and reduce lung cancer deaths by around 26% in men and 40% in women.

Dr Jason Page, Clinical Director for the SYB Lung Health Check programme said: “The SYB Targeted Lung Health Check programme is a new, innovative way to help the earlier detection of lung disease, including cancer.

“Early detection not only allows earlier treatment and support for people, but also helps to improve their long-term health outcomes. As a local GP, I would encourage all eligible patients to take up the offer.”

Ashfield Engage are working with local GP practices to identify all patients that are eligible – aged 55 to 74 years, who have ever smoked.

An invitation letter will be sent to eligible patients and include details of your initial appointment.  The Lung Health Check is free and will take place by telephone. Patients who are eligible will be offered a low dose CT scan at a mobile unit if further investigation is required.

“I am delighted we are now able to roll-out this fantastic programme for eligible patients in Rotherham. Cancer is a very sensitive and personal issue and we know many people find it a difficult subject to talk about. This new programme is designed to help detect lung cancer earlier as well as other health conditions such as lung problems and high blood pressure.

“As a Rotherham lad and a Rotherham GP, expansion into Rotherham is particularly poignant and more so as my Mum has been invited as a Greasborough patient.  As such I can empathise with patients and families who are anxious about what this means for them and of course we are eager to know the outcome of the Lung Health Check, but it’s important to me and it was important to my Mum to take up this offer, given the many benefits of taking part”.

“If you receive an invitation letter in the coming weeks, please don’t ignore it; read the local information booklet and keep your appointment.”  

Dr Trish Fisher, Clinical Director of the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System Cancer Alliance and a Consultant Oncologist, said: “Whilst the saying ‘Prevention is better than cure’ is true of many cancers including lung cancer, sadly this isn’t always possible. Therefore early detection is essential to give the best outcomes and experiences for those affected – with modern developments in both surgery and radiotherapy many more people can be safely treated and experience fewer side effects from their treatment than they might expect.

“The Targeted Lung Health Check Programme is something we very much welcome for our region and we are delighted to support its roll out across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw.  We’ve already found 135 lung cancers in Doncaster, 76% of which were early-stage lung cancers and have high hopes of improving health outcomes for the communities of Rotherham in the coming months”.

For more information please visit www.lunghealthchecks.co.uk.

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