An NHS initiative which uses mobile scanning trucks to visit local communities has helped to diagnose more than 5,000 people in England with lung cancer earlier.

The NHS Targeted Lung Health Check Programme is the biggest initiative in NHS history aimed at improving early lung cancer diagnosis. It is specifically targeted at areas of the country with the highest rates of lung cancer.

Recent data shows that since the programme launch in 2019, 5,037 lung cancers have now been found.

Furthermore, 76 per cent of the lung cancers identified by the programme were found at the earliest stages of one and two, when it is potentially curable.

The data shows there was a 7.4 per cent improvement in lung cancer early diagnosis rates by the NHS last year (April 2023 to March 2024) compared to the period before COVID-19 (March 2019 to February 2020).

Dame Cally Palmer, NHS cancer director, said: “These lung checks can save lives, so it’s fantastic that the NHS has been able to diagnose thousands of people at an early stage when lung cancer is potentially curable.

“The targeted lung health check programme is a new model of care with a community focus, making it easier for people to come forward in a way that works for them, whether in a supermarket car park or a sports stadium.  It has been amazing to see the response, and initiatives like this will make a big difference in improving cancer survival for people throughout the country.”

Paula Chadwick, chief executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, said: “It is fantastic to see that more lives continue to be saved through the Targeted Lung Health Checks and we urge everyone who is invited to take up the opportunity.