Targeted Lung Health Check

A Targeted Lung Health Check is a two-stage process to help assess the health of the participants lungs.

It begins with a telephone call or meeting where a specialist nurse will ask a series of questions to evaluate the participant's chances of developing lung cancer.

 If they are identified as someone who is at an increased risk of developing lung cancer, they will be invited for a quick scan to produce a detailed image of your lungs.

There are often no signs or symptoms of lung cancer at an early stage. As a result, there is a risk of delayed diagnosis and reduced treatment options.

TLHCs can help diagnose lung cancer early, at a stage where treatment can be simpler and more successful.  They can also help diagnose other issues which again can be treated at an earlier stage. 

Patients aged 55 to 74, registered with a GP in Portsmouth, Fareham or Gosport, who have ever smoked will be invited to a Lung Health Check, providing their smoking status is correctly recorded in their GP record.

Participants will be invited to an initial assessment which usually takes place over the phone.

Patients will be contacted at the time of their appointment by a specialist health advisor. They will ask the patient a series of questions about their smoking history, lifestyle and current health and wellbeing.

The health advisor will complete two risk assessments based on the answers given by the patient. If the patient meets a certain risk threshold on either of the risk assessments, they will be offered an appointment with a nurse and a low dose CT scan.

The risks and benefits of the CT scan will be explained to the patient by the nurse.

You may also be asked to take part in the iDx trial whilst you are at your CT scan. The healthcare professional with you will explain what the trial is about and if you are eligible to take part.

Data from the Targeted Lung Health Check Programme so far shows that with these potentially life-saving checks, lung cancer early diagnosis rates can be as high as 80% - compared to less than 30% without this type of intervention – enabling doctors to treat cases sooner, when curative treatment is more possible, saving more lives.

There are strict eligibility criteria for the TLHC, as set by NHS England. To be eligible, you must be:

• Registered with a GP in Portsmouth, Fareham or Gosport
• Aged 55-74 at the point invitations for patients from your practice are issued
• A current or former smoker

If you don’t meet the eligibility criteria, you will not be invited for an NHS Lung Health Check.

If you feel you meet the eligibility criteria and you haven’t received an invitation, there could be several reasons for this:

1. Invitations for patients from your practice have not yet been sent out.
2. Your smoking status has not been recorded on your GP record; if you think this may be the case, please contact your GP practice. Your practice should be able to update your record, and this may mean that you are invited for a lung health check.
3. You are not registered with a GP in Portsmouth, Fareham or Gosport, although you may live in one of those areas.

Please keep an eye out for your invitation which will arrive by post in a yellow-coloured envelope.

The invitation will include information about a booked telephone appointment for you to chat with a health professional about your chances of developing lung cancer.

If needed they will refer you for a quick scan. For Portsmouth patient, this will be at our Rodney Road Centre. For Fareham and Gosport patients, this will be at our mobile scanner in the car park of Asda on Newgate Lane.

You will also receive text reminders ahead of your telephone appointment.

The letter will have information about who you need to contact if you need to change your appointment or if you have further questions about the process.

For an Easy Read version, please click here.

If you would like a translated version of the participant's booklet, please call 023 9338 2625.