Lung cancer screening: 8,000 complete checks in Southport 2026

Key Points

• More than 12,000 patients within the age group of 55–74 who smoke have been invited for lung health check services for free in Southport and Formby.
• Over 8,000 have taken the lung health check test in total, which has led to a 63% uptake rate.
• The NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme has started in the area from 27 January 2026, covering 14 GP surgeries of the Southport and Formby Primary Care Network.
• Eligible participants undergo a telephone assessment and, if they are assessed as high-risk, a low-dose CT scan will be offered to them using a mobile scanner located at Dunes Leisure Centre car park on Esplanade in Southport.
• The mobile scanner completed more than 2,500 scans in the area and left mid-July 2026 after the last reminder in June 2026.
• Nationally, more than 2.5 million people within the age group of 55–74 who smoke or have smoked in the past have been invited for lung cancer screening since the start of the programme.
• Since the start of the programme in 2019 in Cheshire and Merseyside, there have been more than 700 lung cancers detected through screening with 80% of cases being stage 1 or 2.

Southport (Liverpool standard) August 06, 2026 – More than 8,000 residents have completed free NHS lung health checks in a screening drive that invited over 12,000 people across uk/local/southport/">Southport and Formby, health services have confirmed.

The NHS Lung Cancer Screening programme, which launched locally on 27 January 2026, has recorded a 63% uptake among those invited, with the mobile CT scanner unit at Dunes Leisure Centre car park on Southport’s Esplanade carrying out more than 2,500 scans before its scheduled departure in mid-July, according to updates from local GP practices and the Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance.

How many people took part in the Southport and Formby lung screening?

More than 12,000 local people were invited to take up the offer of a free lung health check as part of the Lung Cancer Screening programme in Southport and Formby, with more than 8,000 completing their check, according to local reporting. Uptake for Southport and Formby has been described as “excellent”, with 63% of invited people already completing their lung health check by early June 2026, as stated in a notice from Kew Surgery in Southport.

Who was eligible for the lung cancer screening in Southport and Formby?

The screening targeted people aged 55 to 74 who have a recorded smoking history and are registered with a GP in the Southport and Formby Primary Care Network (PCN), according to the Southport and Formby PCN and Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital (LHCH). Invitations were sent by text or letter, followed by a telephone interview with a member of the screening team, as outlined by the Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance.

How did the screening process work locally?

Eligible patients first received an appointment for a telephone health assessment, and those classed as higher risk were offered a low-dose CT scan in a mobile unit situated in the car park of Dunes Leisure Centre on Southport’s Esplanade, as reported by the Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance. The CT scan is described as far more accurate at picking up cancer than a standard X-ray, and the programme also offered support on how best to quit smoking for those who were ready to give up, according to the same source.

What results have been achieved so far?

The mobile scanner unit at Dunes Leisure Centre carried out more than 2,500 scans to support early detection of lung conditions, according to a June 2026 update from Kew Surgery. Across Cheshire and Merseyside, since checks began in 2019, more than 700 lung cancers have been found through the programme, with 80% diagnosed at the early stages of 1 or 2 when treatment is easier, as stated by the Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance. People diagnosed with lung cancer at an early stage are nearly 20 times more likely to survive for five years than those whose disease is found late, according to the same briefing.

What have officials said about the programme?

Dr Chris Warburton, Lung Cancer Screening Clinical Director of Programme, said: “We are delighted that eligible people in Southport and Formby will soon be able to have these checks.” He added: “We’ve seen the amazing impact of them since the programme was first launched. Lung cancer can be difficult to detect early, which is why so many people are diagnosed when the disease has become incurable. But screening is helping us to diagnose more people earlier when cancer is far easier to treat.” Dr Warburton continued: “That’s why we want everyone who is given an appointment to attend it. The chances are that you won’t have any symptoms of lung problems – but should have the check whether you feel well or not. For the majority of those who attend, everything will be fine, but for those who do have something wrong, catching it early can make all the difference.” He concluded: “Screening is painless, quick, convenient, and free of charge, so if you are given an appointment for one. Please do not ignore it.”

How can people still access the service?

Those who have received an invitation but not yet booked were urged in June 2026 not to miss the opportunity, as the scanner was due to leave in mid-July, according to Kew Surgery. People who think they may be eligible but have not received an invite were advised to contact Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital on 0151 254 3032 to find out more, as stated in the same notice. Further information about Lung Cancer Screening in Cheshire and Merseyside is available via the LHCH website, as signposted by the Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance.

Background to the lung screening development in Southport and Formby

The NHS Lung Cancer Screening programme, formerly known as Targeted Lung Health Checks, has been operating in parts of Cheshire and Merseyside including Liverpool, Halton, Knowsley, St Helens, Wirral, Warrington and south Sefton for several years before extending to the Southport and Formby PCN area from 27 January 2026, according to the Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance. The rollout covered 14 GP practices in the PCN over several months, with invitations sent directly by Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital to eligible patients, as outlined by the Southport and Formby PCN and individual practices such as Formby Medical Group. Nationally, more than 2.5 million people in England aged 55 to 74 who smoke or used to smoke have been invited for Lung Cancer Screening as part of what is described as the biggest programme to improve early lung cancer diagnosis in health service history, according to the Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance.

Prediction: How this development can affect residents and local health outcomes

The high uptake of more than 8,000 completed checks from over 12,000 invitations suggests that a significant proportion of the at-risk population in Southport and Formby has been assessed, which, if sustained, could lead to a higher share of lung cancers being detected at stage 1 or 2 locally, mirroring the 80% early-stage detection rate seen across Cheshire and Merseyside since 2019. For residents aged 55–74 with a smoking history, this means a greater likelihood of earlier intervention, access to smoking cessation support, and, where cancer is found, treatment at a stage when survival chances are substantially higher, given that early diagnosis is associated with nearly 20 times higher five-year survival compared with late diagnosis. For local GP practices and Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, continued participation could reduce the burden of late-stage lung cancer presentations over time, while for the wider community it may reinforce the normalisation of preventive screening and encourage future engagement with NHS screening programmes.