Published on 6 August 2026
The latest area in Cheshire and Merseyside to have Lung Cancer Screening has seen one of the highest take-ups of the checks in the country – and eight lung cancers found.
More than 12,000 people were invited for an NHS lung check in Southport and Formby when they rolled out there this in the first half of this year.
The programme, delivered by Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital on behalf of Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance (CMCA), ran between January and July and saw a mobile CT scanner based at Dunes Splash World.
People aged 55 to 74 with a recorded smoking history were invited to take part in a free lung health check, designed to identify lung cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage.
The response from residents has been very positive with uptake reaching 68% - making it the highest participation rate recorded in Cheshire and Merseyside since the programme began in 2021 and one of the highest nationwide.
During the programme:
- 12,606 people were booked for a lung health check
- More than 8,000 residents completed their lung health check
- Over 4,800 CT scans were carried out at the scanner
- 76 patients were referred to Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s Southport and Ormskirk services for further investigation
- Eight lung cancers have been identified so far
- 350 people agreed to be referred to smoking cessation services for support to quit smoking
The programme is helping to save lives by detecting cancer earlier, often before symptoms develop. Early diagnosis significantly improves treatment options and outcomes for patients.
Dr Octavia Stevens, Cancer Lead at Southport and Formby Primary Care Network, said: “The response from people in Southport and Formby has been fantastic. Achieving the highest uptake rate seen across Cheshire and Merseyside shows that local people understand the importance of early detection and are willing to take up opportunities to look after their health.
“The identification of eight cancers so far demonstrates exactly why this programme is so important. Lung cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages, and finding it early gives people the best possible chance of successful treatment.”
Since launching in 2021, more than 980 lung cancers have been identified across Cheshire and Merseyside, with over 80% diagnosed at Stage 1 or Stage 2, when treatment is more likely to be successful and potentially curative.
Although the mobile scanner has now moved on from Southport, eligible residents in North Sefton can still book a lung health check by telephoning 0151 254 3032. Anyone assessed as requiring a CT scan will currently be offered an appointment at the nearest available scanning location, either in Wirral or Warrington.
The mobile CT scanner is expected to return to South Sefton in March 2027.