A six-month programme of Lung Cancer Screening for people in North Sefton, Southport and Formby is coming to an end.

Not too late

But it’s not too late for local people to get screened. Health checks are continuing until Wednesday 1st July and the CT scanner will be at The Dunes in Southport until Saturday 18th July.

Lung Cancer Screening is aimed at people aged between 55 and 74 who smoke or have smoked in the past. People in this group are at increased risk of developing lung cancer. Screening is a chance for them to have their lung health checked and have treatment early if any problems are found.

Symptoms can go unnoticed

Most people will have no problems, but it is best to get checked out because sometimes symptoms can go unnoticed until the disease becomes worse.

If you are in the target group – former smokers aged 55 to 74 – and have not already been invited for a screening, you can contact the team on 0151 254 3032.

Step one of the programme is a 30-minute health assessment over the phone. If you are assessed as being at an increased risk of lung cancer, you will be offered a low dose CT scan locally in a mobile unit.

Low Dose CAT scans

Over 6,700 Lung health Checks taken place in North Sefton as part of the programme and approaching 4,000 have been referred for Low Dose CAT scans.

The Lung Cancer Screening programme was offered to eligible patients in South Sefton between 2022 and 2024.   

Across Cheshire and Merseyside, more than 950 lung cancers have been diagnosed by these checks, with most being totally cured of the disease.

Simple and quick

Cllr Joanne Williams, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “This type of screening can reduce the number of people dying of lung cancer by 26% in men and between 39% and 61% in women, so I’m glad to see that over 6,700 people in North Sefton have come forward for the programme.

“The scan is simple and quick, and you get your results about four weeks later. The vast majority of people are found to be totally fine and their lungs completely healthy.”

Cheshire and Merseyside leading the way

Cheshire and Merseyside has led the way in rolling out this screening. It has already taken place in south Sefton, Liverpool, Knowsley, Halton, St Helens, Wirral and Warrington.

The programme was launched in North Sefton, Southport and Formby in January 2026. It is being delivered by the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital in partnership with the Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance and local NHS teams.

There’s still time to book your screening

Cllr Williams added: “Although the programme is coming to an end in North Sefton, if you’re a former smoker aged 55 to 74, there’s still time to book your screening.

“Simply contact the team on 0151 254 3032 today.”

You can find more  information about Lung Cancer screening in North Sefton here.