The Salford Lung Health Check Service aims to support current and ex-smokers in Salford.
The scheme is targeting 55–74-year-olds in Salford with a history of smoking for free, non-intrusive and routine tests and checks. The tests can be conducted with a Respiratory Specialist Nurse either in-person or virtually.
The NHS lung health check is currently contacting patients in Swinton area, offering FREE lung M.O.T appointments for 55-74 year olds with a history of smoking. If you’re eligible for a health check, you’ll receive a letter to attend a virtual check-up. https://t.co/XKS022AyX5 pic.twitter.com/9aei20z0Ec
— Salford South East Primary Care Network (@OrdsallPCN) September 24, 2022
The service will spot lung disease earlier and offer patients treatment to reduce the rates of premature death and disability from lung disease. The checks aim to:
- Spot early signs of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Spot the early signs of lung cancer
- Reduce late lung cancer detection
- Improve lung cancer survival rates
- Increase the number of people who quit smoking
More information about the Lung Health Check Service here: http://https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/our-services/respiratory-medicine/lung-health-check-service-salford?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Orlo&utm_content=Lung+Health+Checks
Furthermore, more thorough support will be offered to those who want to quit smoking, they can opt to speak to on-site specialist advisors from Salford City Council’s Health Improvement Service (HIS) immediately after their appointment.
Smoking and smoking related illnesses are among the most prevalent and lethal in Salford. In Greater Manchester, an estimated 4,500 people die from a smoking-related illness each year, nearly 13 deaths every single day. Not to mention a number more living with debilitating long-term lung-related illnesses.
According to a 2019 report by the Salford Health and Wellbeing Board, residents of Salford smoke at a higher rate than Greater Manchester and England as a whole. Around 21% of Salford residents smoke, 1 in 5 residents equalling around 40,000, while the national rate is around 14.7%. The Lung Health Check Service aims to reduce the rate across Greater Manchester to 13%, which would require around 17,000 Salford residents to quit. The full report can be found here: https://sccdemocracy.salford.gov.uk/documents/s14627/09%20Salford%20Tobacco%20Update.pdf
Dr Seamus Grundy, Lead Lung Cancer Clinician at Salford Royal said: “The dangers of smoking are well documented and include the fact that smoking tobacco causes the death of 50% of smokers through disease such as cancer, heart attacks and strokes.
“We know that cigarettes are tremendously addictive but there are effective treatments available to help people quit. For residents in Salford there is a freely available quit service which people can access directly by doing an internet search for ‘smoke free Salford’.
Dr Grundy also explained the motivation behind the Lung Health Check Service. He explained: “The Lung Health Check Service is designed to detect lung disease at an early stage in at risk individuals. They will speak with a nurse either in a community clinic or on the telephone. The nurse will ask them a number of questions which helps us calculate their risk of having lung problems such as lung cancer.
“If they are in the higher risk group we arrange a CT scan to take a close look at their lungs. We have diagnosed a lot of cases of lung cancer through the programme so far and 80% of cases were found at an early stage when we can treat them more successfully. In contrast 75% of lung cancers who come to my clinic from their GP with symptoms will have later stage cancer.”
You can watch Salford’s own Dr Seamus Grundy talk about lung health here:
Letters have been sent to residents registered with a Salford GP who identified as smokers confirming they are eligible for a check. If you have not received a letter you can book an appointment by calling 0161 206 1136 or email Lung.Healthcheck@srft.nhs.uk
Recent Comments