Oldham Expands Free Lung Cancer Screening to All Eligible Patients

Every smoker and former smoker aged 55 to 74 registered with a GP in Oldham will receive an invitation for a free Lung Health Check by March 2025, as the NHS expands its life-saving screening programme across the borough.

The checks, which can detect lung cancer at its earliest and most treatable stages, will now be offered to patients at all remaining GP practices following successful rollouts in Oldham Central and South areas last summer. Mobile clinics will visit Tesco on Featherstall Road North for Milltown practices, Asda in Shaw for Oldham North practices, with Oldham East locations to be announced.

Dr Brian Lewis, GP and Clinical Director for Oldham Central Primary Care Network, urged eligible residents to accept their invitations: “Lung Health Checks help the NHS to spot any lung cancer symptoms earlier, when it is much more treatable. You’ll have a chat with a nurse and fill out a questionnaire to look at your risk. About half of the people who visit may also need a low-dose scan which we will also do on the truck. It will most likely offer you some reassurance. But it could save your life!”

The Greater Manchester-wide programme has already diagnosed over 700 patients with lung cancer, with nearly 80% caught at stage 1 or 2 when curative treatment remains possible. Those diagnosed at the earliest stage are nearly 20 times more likely to survive five years compared to late-stage detection.

Patients who missed previous invitations can rebook by calling 0161 529 0900. New invitations will arrive by post or text message for those registered at practices across Milltown, Oldham North and Oldham East Primary Care Networks.

---

Source: Read original article