Lung Cancer Screening Programme

Who is eligible for the programme?​

People who are aged 55 - 74, who have ever smoked will be invited for their screening, which is in two parts:​

​1. A nurse led lung health check over the phone by Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, to assess the patient's risk of developing lung cancer. ​

2. If the patient is at increased risk, the patient will be referred for a low dose CT Scan.

​

The LCS programme works on an area-by-area basis, with the provider, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, who contacts all eligible patients on a practice-by-practice basis for the nurse lung check. ​

A mobile scanner is then used for those needing the scans and this is parked in an easily accessible location, such as supermarkets, council car parks, sports grounds. 

Activity Data

The following outlines the programme’s activity to date (March 2026)​:

• Number of Invites – 194,388
• Number of Lung Health Check appointments attended – 103,001
• Number of Low Dose CT Scan appointments attended – 61,057
• Number of Lung Cancers Identified – 765
• Of which stage 1 – 556
• Of which stage 2 – 60

​The normal national diagnostic route typically finds around 70–75% of lung cancers diagnosed at stage 3 or 4 compared to Cheshire and Merseyside Lung Cancer Screening programme finds over 80% of lung cancers at stage 1 or 2, where patient outcomes are generally better.