About our service

When it comes to lung health, spotting things early can make a big difference. That’s why we’re offering lung cancer screening to people with a smoking history.

Smoking causes lot of illnesses, including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the UK.

A lung health check is a check of your lungs. We are mainly looking for lung cancer. Most people who have a check won’t have lung cancer. But for those who do, finding it early makes all the difference.

Did you know?

3 in 4 people are diagnosed with lung cancer late because there are often no signs or symptoms at an early stage

Who is eligible for a lung health check?

We’ll invite you to take part if you’re:

  • A current or ex-smoker
  • Aged 55-74
  • Registered with a GP

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Why should I have a lung health check?

Lung Health Checks save lives.

Lung cancer often doesn’t make you feel poorly. You might not even know anything is wrong until its spread. When the cancer has spread, it can be harder to treat. When lung cancer is found early, it can be cured.

These checks can be lifesaving. They help spot problems early, when they can be easier to deal with.

What is a lung health check?

One of our dedicated lung nurses will call you to complete your telephone lung health check. The check takes around 10-20 minutes. We’ll ask you some questions about your health. We’ll ask for your height and weight. Your answers will tell us your risk of developing lung cancer. If you’re high risk, we’ll offer you a scan of your lungs. The scan is called a CT scan. Find out more.

How can I get a lung health check?

County Durham – The North Programme

If your GP practice is in County Durham, one of our lovely booking team will call you. They’ll offer you a telephone appointment. If you need an in-person appointment, an interpreter, or other support, you can let us know. You may also get a text message from your GP letting you know that you’re eligible and how to get in touch with us.

Get in touch

For more information, please email: cddft.tlhc@nhs.net or telephone: 01207 523675 (our telephone lines are open 8:30am-4:00pm, Monday to Friday).

Darlington – The Tees Valley Programme

If your GP practice is in Darlington, your GP will get in touch with you and invite you to take part. The Tees Valley Programme will invite eligible people who live in Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar, and Cleveland.

Get in touch

For more information, please email: tv.lunghealthcheck@nhs.net or telephone: 01642 045566.

Find out more.

How can I reduce my risk of lung cancer?

We know that smokers have a higher risk of getting lung cancer. If you still smoke, the best thing you can do is to stop. The easiest way to do this is with support from your local stop smoking team. You can:

What else can I do?

You should know the signs of lung cancer. Finding it early makes all the difference. If you have one or more of these symptoms, speak to your GP:

  • A cough that does not go away after 3 weeks
  • A change in a cough you've had for a while
  • Pains around your chest or upper back
  • Feeling short of breath or having difficulty breathing
  • Feeling less hungry or losing weight without trying
  • Feeling tired for no clear reason
  • Chest infections that keep coming back
  • Coughing up blood