Lung Cancer Screening
Lung cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer in the UK. Smoking is the biggest cause of lung cancer.
There are often no signs or symptoms of lung cancer at an early stage. Lung cancer screening aims to find lung cancer early, sometimes before people have symptoms.
Hundreds of people have been diagnosed with lung cancer earlier by a NHS programme which is now active across the whole North East and North Cumbria region.
The Lung Cancer Screening programme helps to save lives by identifying lung cancer at an earlier stage, when it can potentially be cured. Smoking is the single biggest cause, responsible for more than 7/10 cases.
The Lung Cancer Screening programme (formerly Targeted Lung Health Checks) is an NHS England (NHSE) commissioned service previously piloted in 23 areas in England but now rolled out across the country.
People aged 55-74 years who have ever smoked are invited to attend an appointment where their risk of lung cancer is calculated. People at or above a certain risk threshold for lung cancer are then eligible
If they are current smokers, people are advised about smoking cessation and referred to appropriate cessation support on an opt-out basis.
An Enhanced Screening Programme is being piloted in the Newcastle & Gateshead area, aiming to support all smokers who have been contacted as part of the screening, with the long-term goal of supporting them to make a successful quit attempt with evidence-based behavioural support, NICE approved pharmacotherapy and nicotine vapes.
There will also be a rapid referral into community services for those smokers who are prepared to access support from the community.
The TLHC programme offers a unique way to identify and engage with our current smoking populations and offer to reach out to support them in a way that they don’t seek themselves.
The programme started in January 2026 with a steering group set up to provide oversight on progress.
