Salford Lung Health Checks

Since September 2019, over 9,000 Salford residents aged 55-74 with a history of smoking have attended a free NHS lung health check.

Of those, over 4,500 went on to have further tests which resulted in 96 early cancer diagnoses, meaning treatment could start much earlier.

The lung health checks have also identified over 2,000 non-life-threatening conditions. It can also check for COPD and the risk of other diseases such as heart attacks and strokes and help to prevent these from happening in the future.

Run by specially trained nurses, lung health checks are an easy way to find out how well your lungs are working. If needed, you’ll get care and treatment to help breathe new life into your lungs.

What will happen during the checks:

• First, you’ll be asked some questions about your breathing and about your overall lung health.
• You may be offered a breathing test. After blowing into a machine, you’ll be told whether there are any problems that need taking care of.
• The nurse may also talk to you about having a lung scan to check for any early signs of lung cancer. You will have plenty of time to chat to the nurse and ask any questions.

After your appointment you will also have the opportunity to talk to someone from the Salford stop smoking service.

The service is funded by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care and delivered by Salford Royal Hospital, which first launched in Walkden and Little Hulton in 2019. Since this time, the programme has invited patients from Eccles, Irlam, Ordsall, Claremont and Swinton, and is currently contacting eligible residents in Broughton.

Health checks are still available to those previously invited too so it’s not too late to book. The checks take place in your local community, so you don’t need to go to hospital.

If you have a history of smoking, are registered with a GP in Salford, and have received an invitation, please book your appointment today by calling 0161 206 1136.

Watch the lung video below explaining more about the lung health checks.