Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB
Some of Nottingham’s most vulnerable communities have received potentially life-saving lung health checks, as part of an initiative designed to bring screening directly to people who may otherwise struggle to access healthcare.
The Lung Cancer Screening Programme visited Nottingham City Centre for a two-day event focused on supporting people experiencing multiple disadvantage, including those affected by a combination of mental health challenges, homelessness and substance misuse.
Mobile CT scan units were set up on Smithy Row in the city centre, making it as easy as possible for people to attend alongside their support worker in a familiar and accessible environment. Attendees were also offered refreshments, care packs including sun cream during the recent hot weather and additional support on the day from the Homeless Health Team.
Over the two days, 13 people attended appointments, with 11 identified as high risk and receiving an immediate CT scan.
For the first time, the team also trialled opening appointments to members of the public through a drop-in model. This proved equally successful, with a further seven eligible members of the public attending, five of whom were identified as high risk and also received a CT scan.
People are eligible for lung cancer screening if they are aged between 55 and 74 and have ever smoked.
Dr Thilan Bartholomeuz, Clinical Director for the Lung Cancer Screening Programme in Nottingham & Nottinghamshire, said: “Lung cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage, when treatment options are more limited. Initiatives like this help us identify signs of disease earlier, when treatment is more effective, while also raising awareness of lung health more broadly.
“By taking services directly into the community and working closely with trusted local partners, we are helping to reduce health inequalities and ensure more people can benefit from potentially life-saving checks.”
Katie Lee, Lung Cancer Screening Programme Manager at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board, said: “We know that people experiencing multiple disadvantage often have significantly poorer health outcomes than the general population and may face additional barriers when trying to access healthcare.
“This has been a fantastic example of organisations coming together to deliver truly patient-centred care. We saw excellent engagement across both days and this was only possible because of the trusted relationships key workers and partners have built within these communities.
“A particularly encouraging outcome was seeing people return for follow-up scans after attending a previous event. This reflects the positive experience people had previously and the trust that can be built by creating a welcoming and supportive environment.”
Feedback from the people using the service was incredibly positive and reflected that ‘staff went above and beyond’; ‘I felt listened to and valued’ and ‘it’s a great idea to save someone’s life’. The initiative was delivered through a strong partnership between NHS organisations, community services, primary care, voluntary sector partners and independent healthcare providers.
