The Targeted Lung Health Check programme is now underway in Barnsley, helping our communities identify any lung problems earlier and get the help they need sooner.
The Dearne is the first area to benefit from free NHS Lung Health Checks, which will be rolled out across different neighbourhoods in Barnsley over the next year.
Councillor Sarah-Jane Tattersall, Mayor of Barnsley, has been joined today in Wath-upon-Dearne by our Targeted Lung Health Check ambassador, healthcare professionals and local Cancer Champions to celebrate the programme’s launch in our borough.
People aged between 55 and 74 who smoke or used to smoke and have a registered GP in Barnsley will be invited for a free NHS Lung Health Check in the coming months.
Delivered by the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System Cancer Alliance, these groups have been chosen as they are most at risk of developing lung cancer.
Lung Health Checks help find problems earlier, often before people may notice anything is wrong and at a stage when treatment can be simpler and more successful, saving lives.
The Targeted Lung Health Check programme launched in Doncaster last March, already helping more than 18,000 people get potentially life-saving checks.
75 per cent of the lung cancers found to date have been discovered at an early stage, helping many people access curative treatments.
Targeted Lung Health Checks will be rolled out in Barnsley alongside Rotherham, starting with those areas deemed most at risk, so it will take time to get to everyone. Please keep an eye on our channels for more information on when it will arrive in your community.
If you have any concerns or new symptoms you’re worried about, please don’t wait for your Lung Health Check letter. Please speak to your GP rather than waiting.
When it’s your turn, you will be sent an invitation letter through the post, offering you an initial assessment over the phone to make sure you’re eligible for the programme.
There are two parts to the Lung Health Check, with plenty of time throughout the process to ask any questions you may have.
First, you’ll have a short phone call with a nurse, who will ask you about your breathing, overall lung health, lifestyle, medical history and family medical history.
If you have a higher chance of developing lung cancer, you may then be offered a chest scan to check your lungs are working well. This scan is quick, easy and painless, using a computer to take a detailed picture of your lungs.
The scanners will move around Barnsley, visiting well-known places in your community close to your home, available six days a week, from 8am until 8pm.
Should anything be found, you will be contacted by phone or letter with the next steps.
Councillor Caroline Makinson, Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health and Communities, said: “In Barnsley, we want to make sure everyone can enjoy life in good physical and mental health. Building on its success in Doncaster over the past year, we’re delighted to welcome the Targeted Lung Health Check programme to our borough.
“These checks will provide quick and easily accessible screenings to help those at higher risk of lung conditions, including lung cancer, get the help they need sooner. While it may cause you to worry, getting an early diagnosis improves the chances of treatment being successful.
“If you get a letter, don’t delay, take advantage of these potentially life-saving checks today and if you’re worried about your symptoms before you’re invited, please speak to your GP.”
You can learn more about the Targeted Lung Health Check programme in Barnsley on the South Yorkshire Cancer Alliance website.
