About TLHC

You must be registered as a current or former smoker with your GP to be invited for a lung health check.

Please find below the GP practices in Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark that are currently sending out invite letters.

Lung cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer in the UK. There are often no signs or symptoms of lung cancer at an early stage.

The Targeted Lung Health Check programme aims to find lung cancer early, sometimes before you have symptoms.

Before booking your appointment, please remember: 

• It is a free service.
• Your initial assessment takes place over the phone at a time that is convenient for you.
• If you need it, the scan of your lungs - which is painless - will take place in a local community setting. 
• You can talk through any questions or concerns you may have with a healthcare professional.
• There is advice on how to quit smoking if you would like it.

Step 1

You will recieve a letter inviting you to a Targeted Health Check. 

Step 2 

You will have an initial assessment over the phone with a specially trained nurse who can assess your lung health.

The nurse will ask questions about your breathing, lifestyle, family, height, weight and medical history. 

There are three possible results from your initial assessment:

• No problems found: The nurse may find nothing further to investigate and you will not need a lung scan. We will write to your GP to tell them this.

• Referral to your GP: If problems with your breathing or lungs are found but you do not require a scan, the nurse may refer you on to your GP or another specialist. We will write to your GP so they know about the appointment.

• Offered a scan of your lungs – If you have a higher chance of developing lung cancer now or in the future you will be ​​​​​​invited for a simple scan of your lungs using a low dose CT scanner. The scan can help identify lung cancer early, before symptoms occur, and when there are more treatment options available. 

Step 3

Your lung scan appointment will take place on a mobile unit or scanner, which means it can be parked in the community and ensures it is easy to get to.

Your appointment should last approximately 30 minutes and you’ll have a chance to ask the nurse any questions that may be concerning you.

The scan itself uses a low-dose CT scanner to take a detailed picture of your lungs from different angles.

Step 4 

You will be contacted with your results. If your scan results come back with signs of lung cancer, you’ll be referred for further tests and treatment.

You will be invited to attend your lung scan at one of the following locations, that is closet to your home address. 

Asda - Old Kent Road,Southwark

Address: 464 - 504 Old Kent Rd, London SE1 5AG

Getting there: The mobile unit is located in the car park. 

• By bus: bus stops and routes near Asda Superstore:
• Malt Street (Stop EN) - 21, 53, 78, 172, 453

• Malt Street (Stop WH) - 21, 53, 78, 172, 453

• By tube: The unit is a 13 minute bus ride from Elephant & Castle station (53, 172, 453), a 14 minute bus ride from Borough station (21) and a 23 minute walk from Bermondsey station. 
• By train: The unit is a 15 minute walk from South Bermondsey station.
• By car: There is free parking on site.
• Directions via Asda website

Park Row Car Park, Greenwich 

Address: Park Row, London SE10 9NL

Getting there: The mobile unit is located in the car park.

• By bus: bus stop and routes near Park Row:
• Trafalgar Estate (Stop T) - 129, 177, 188,  286, 386 and N1. 
• National Maritime Museum (Stop F) - 129, 177, 180, 188, 286, 386 and N1.
• By tube: The unit is a 14 minute bus ride from North Greenwich underground station (188 and 422). 
• By train: The nearest rail stations are Greenwich and Maze Hill. Direct trains run to these stations from London Cannon Street and London Bridge. 
• By car: Please note that parking charges apply. Visit the Royal Borough of Greenwich website for more information. 

Sainsbury's Dulwich Superstore, Lambeth

Address: 80 Dog Kennel Hill, London SE22 8BB

Getting there: The mobile unit is located in the car park. 

• By bus: bus stops and routes near Sainsbury's Superstore:
• Quorn Road (Stop L) - 40, 42, 176, 185, 484, P13 
• East Dulwich Station (Stop D) - 40, 42, 176, 185, 484, P13

• Champion Hill (Stop F) - 40, 176, 188, 484

• By train: The unit is a 5 minute walk from East Dulwich station.
• By car: There is free parking on site.
• Directions via Sainsbury's Dulwich Superstore (sainsburys.co.uk)

Should anything be identified either during the discussion with a nurse or during the lung CT scan you will be contacted by telephone or letter with the next steps. If you have any worries about this you can speak to a nurse in the booking team.

You will get your results from us within four weeks. There are four possible results:

• No problems found. This means we saw no signs of lung cancer, or other problems,on the scan. We will write to you with the results and ask you to come back for another scan in two years. However, it is still possible that lung cancer could develop between scans or that the scan may have missed it. If you notice anything that is not normal for you before your next scan, tell your doctor.
• Second scan needed. This usually means there is something on the scan which is hard to identify. It is probably something harmless, but because it could be more serious we will ask you to come for another scan in around three months, just to check.
• Further tests needed. This means we've seen something on the scan and you need further tests, which could include a biopsy. We will call you and write to the hospital so you can be seen by a doctor toinvestigate further.
• Another problem found. This means there is no sign of lung cancer but there are signs of other problems on the scan that may need treatment or medical advice. We will write to you and your GP.