Lung health checks in Kent
The NHS in Kent is piloting a new service aimed at helping to diagnose lung illness at an earlier stage when treatment may be more successful. The pilot, taking place on the south Kent coast, is expected to start in August.
The south Kent coast area has been chosen by NHS England for a pilot, and if successful, we hope that more areas across Kent and Medway will be added to the rollout.
These checks on your lungs should help to find out early any health issues with your lungs, which you may not even be aware of – as there are no real symptoms yet. So, it’s important you attend when you receive an invitation for a lung health check, even if you feel fine.
The first step is to have a phone or video appointment with a health professional. They will ask you some questions to find out more about your lung health.
If this shows that you are at a higher risk of having health issues with your lungs, you will be offered an appointment for a lung scan. This will be a low dose CT scan to take a detailed picture of your lungs.
The scan will take place at Buckland Hospital in Dover. Afterwards the pictures of the lungs will be reviewed, and you’ll be contacted with an update on what they show. If needed, you’ll be referred to a clinician to start treatment.
If you are a smoker, you’ll also be offered support for quitting smoking, as part of the lung health check.
Those who are eligible will receive an invitation to book an appointment from July. The first appointments will be taking place in August. The programme will run over two years from July 2022 through to July 2024. Invitations to book an appointment will be sent out over the two-year period.
Lung health checks will be available to people who are registered with a GP on the south Kent coast. If you live in an area where they are taking place, you will receive an invitation if all of the following apply to you.
You:
- are over 55 but younger than 75 years old
- are registered with an GP in the pilot area (see list below)
- have ever smoked, and this is recorded with your GP.
You will either receive a letter or a phone call inviting you to take part. Even if you feel fine, it’s important that you still book an appointment, as the checks could pick up an illness, even if you don’t have symptoms.
Eligible patients registered at the following GP practices will be invited to a lung health check.
- The Marsh (Lydd, New Romney, Dymchurch)
- Church Lane Health Centre
- Martello Health Centre
- Oak Hill Practice
- Orchard House Surgery
- Folkestone Hythe and Rural
- Church Road Practice
- Folkstone Surgery
- Hawkinge and Elham Surgery
- Oaklands Health Centre
- Sun Lane Surgery
- White House Surgery
- Health Care Excellence East (Dover)
- Aylesham Medical Practice
- Lydden Surgery
- White Cliffs Medical Centre
- Pencester Surgery
- Health Care Excellence West (Folkestone)
- Guildhall Street Surgery
- Manor Clinic
- Sandgate Road Surgery
- The New Surgery
- Dover Town
- Buckland Medical Practice
- High Street Surgery
- Peter Street Surgery
- St James’ Surgery
- Deal and Sandwich
- Balmoral Surgery
- Manor Road Surgery
- Sandwich Medical Practice
- St Richard’s Road Surgery
- The Cedars Surgery
The health checks look for early signs of lung related illnesses before there are any symptoms. If you notice any of the following symptoms or anything that is not normal for you, you should tell your doctor.
- a cough that won't go away
- a change in a cough you’ve had for a long time
- being short of breath
- coughing up blood
- feeling very tired
