Targeted Lung Health Check

If you are aged 55-74 and are a smoker, or have previously been a smoker, we’ll send you a letter when it is your turn, inviting you to an initial telephone appointment with the lung health check team. It's really important you have this.

Your letter will have the NHS logo on it and will be from the Targeted Lung Health Check team, sent on behalf of your GP.

Some people who have never smoked may also be sent the invitation letter. Please phone us on 020 3839 8911 if you receive this letter, and we can double-check whether a Targeted Lung Health Check appointment is right for you.

We will call you at the time on your letter to discuss whether a lung health check face-to-face appointment and lung scan are right for you. If so, an appointment will be booked for you to meet with a nurse and, if it is right for you, a low dose CT scan of the lungs.

We’ll make every effort to call you at the scheduled time, and we usually manage to phone within 10 minutes of when we say, but please be aware that the time may vary slightly. If this is inconvenient, please phone us and we can reschedule. The number we call from may come up as an unknown number on your phone, or it may give the number we are calling from, which is 020 3839 8911.

If the appointment time is inconvenient and you’d like to change it, please phone the freephone number (which will be on the letter), which is 020 3839 8911.  You can call for free from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, or from 8am to 12 noon on Saturday. We may be able to assess you when you phone, or it may be that an alternative time for a phone discussion is arranged.

If you don’t want to proceed with a lung health check appointment, please phone 020 3839 8911 to discuss this in more detail.

If you need a bit more time during your appointment for interpreter assistance or you require extra time for explanations then please let the bookings team know as we are happy to provide a double appointment. Call us on 020 3839 8911 or email nel.lunghealthcheck@nhs.net

We are currently inviting people from Barking & Dagenham and Tower Hamlets for their lung health check.

If, after you have your telephone appointment, you are invited for a face-to-face appointment, you can find the details of where this will take place by clicking on the relevant link below:

Barking & Dagenham

Tower Hamlets

Please note that a face-to-face appointment may not be appropriate for you. This will be discussed with you on your telephone appointment.

• You’ll be asked some questions about your breathing, overall lung health, lifestyle, and family and medical history.
• Your height and weight will be measured, and your blood pressure may be taken.
• Whether or not you’re offered a lung scan will depend on the outcome of your face-to-face appointment.
• We work out your risk from your lifestyle, medical and family history. The nurse will help you to decide if a scan is right for you.
• If it is appropriate for you to have a scan, this will take place straight away at the same location

When you come in for your appointment, if you’re asked to have a scan, this will take place at the same location, in a mobile scanning unit.

• The appointment will last about 30 minutes.
• Your actual scan takes less than a minute.
• You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes and remove any metal objects, such as jewellery or belt buckles.
• The scan is safe as it’s a low-dose scan.

• Results of your lung health check appointment will be sent to you and your GP within 2-4 weeks.
• If anything abnormal is found at the appointment, or on the scan, you’ll be contacted by a nurse to discuss the results and what the next steps in your management will be.
• If an appointment at the chest clinic is then needed, this will be arranged for you at King George Hospital, Ilford.

For advice on information on how to stop smoking, click here.

For local services in Barking and Dagenham, click here.