The latest rollout of the programme will see eligible residents start to receive a letter inviting them to take part in the screening from the end of the month.
Targeting those most at risk of lung cancer, the free checks will be available to people aged 55-74 who are current or former smokers, with the aim of significantly improving early detection of the disease and patient outcomes. Thousands of people across the region have already taken up the opportunity to improve their lung health, and over 700 people in the east of England have had their lung cancer caught far earlier than they may have done without these checks.
Retired journalist and author Sheila Compton (pictured) had no symptoms when she took up the invitation to attend a scan and was subsequently diagnosed with lung cancer. The 75-year-old mum-of-two from Stevenage says she would not be here today were it not for the screening.
“The early diagnosis from the lung cancer screening saved my life,” she said.
“The scan is completely painless, quick and is over in just a few minutes. There’s nothing to be frightened of. It took five minutes at the most, and it could save your life.
“A lot of people have no symptoms, and until I had this screening, I was playing squash and being active. If I hadn’t had it, I would have carried on in complete ignorance until it was too late.”
Since undergoing the scan, Sheila has had treatment and is enjoying life – travelling, seeing her granddaughter graduate from art college, playing pickleball and taking art classes.
“You don’t procrastinate,” she added.
“You can’t waste a moment and I intend to squeeze every bit of juice out of life, I really will.”
Lung cancer is the UK’s biggest cancer killer, taking the lives of more people than breast, prostate and pancreatic cancers combined.
In the West Herts catchment area, between 2021 and 2025, there were approximately 1,500 lung cancers diagnosed, of which 41% were within the programme age range of 55 to 74. Of these, 34% were stage 1 or stage 2 lung cancer, which commonly show no signs or symptoms.
There is real hope the screening programme, delivered in partnership with the East of England Cancer Alliance, could improve the detection of stage 1 and 2 lung cancer, revolutionising long term survival rates by detecting it at the earliest opportunity, even before symptoms appear.
Dr Rahul Mogal, Respiratory Consultant and West Herts NHS Trust Lung Cancer Screening Programme Lead Clinician, said: “We’re delighted to join the NHS England’s Lung Cancer Screening Programme. This is a wonderful opportunity for people who may be at risk of lung cancer to have their lungs checked and make sure everything is okay.
For the majority of people who take up the invitation there will be no problems, while for those that do find something wrong, catching it early can make all the difference.
“Lung cancer can be difficult to detect early, making it harder to treat when it is eventually discovered. However, as we are seeing from the existing screening programmes, these checks are helping us to diagnose many more people earlier and when it is far easier to treat.”
Dr Fiona Head, Medical Director at Central East ICB, which commissions health services such as the lung cancer checks, added: “We urge anyone who is invited to take part in the screening to take up the opportunity and make an appointment. You may not have any symptoms when you receive your invitation, but you should have the check whether you feel fine or not.
“The main aim of the screening is to detect cancer at the earliest opportunity symptoms may occur, so in the same way we encourage people to go for a breast screening or send off their bowel screening kit, we now want you to have your lungs checked.”
The Lung Cancer Screening Programme has launched in other areas covered by the Central East ICB such as Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, East and North Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.
Since launching in Cambridgeshire & Peterborough in March 2025, the scheme has already identified 44 lung cancers with 59 per cent diagnosed at stage 1, when treatment is most effective.
In East and North Hertfordshire, more than 6,000 eligible people have taken up an invitation to attend a screening since the scheme started there in 2023, with 57 people diagnosed and undergoing treatment. More than 80 per cent of these have been early-stage detection.
And in Milton Keynes, a total of 64 lung cancer cases have been identified through the Lung Cancer Screening Programme since January 2024.
What to expect
If you are eligible, you will receive a letter inviting you to an initial Lung Health Check. You will then be contacted to book an appointment.
The initial assessment will take place over the phone with a health professional. During this initial check, you will be asked some questions about your breathing, overall lung health, lifestyle and family and medical history.
There are three possible results from your lung health check:
- No problems found – the health professional may find nothing further to investigate and you will be discharged from the lung health check programme until a future date when the program will next be available in your area. We will write to your GP to tell them this.
- Referral to other specialised care or your GP – if problems with your breathing or lung health are found, you might be referred for other specialised care or to your GP. The team will write to your GP so they know about the outcome.
- Offered a scan of your lungs – If you are assessed to be at a higher risk of lung cancer now or in the future you will be offered a scan of your lungs (a Low Dose CT scan).
Scanning services will be delivered via a mobile CT unit, which will operate from various locations across south and west Hertfordshire at different times throughout the programme. Patients will be informed of the relevant scanning location and appointment details when their scan is booked.
The West Hertfordshire programme will cover 49 GP surgeries across the south and west Hertfordshire catchment area. It will roll out across the region over the next three years and is designed to invite those at highest risk, first starting in Borehamwood (WD6), Watford (WD17/18/19) and Hemel Hempstead (HP1/2) in 2026/27.
The programme will then continue into 2027/28 covering Potters Bar (EN6), St Albans (AL1/2), and Hemel Hempstead (HP3/4). All remaining areas of Borehamwood, St Albans, Watford and Tring are planned to be invited through 2027/28 and into 2028/29.
As this is a continuing programme, all areas will be revisited in an ongoing basis.