The Peninsula Lung Cancer Screening Programme has reached a major milestone, with more than 650 lung cancers detected at an early stage since its launch in 2022. This achievement reflects a collaborative effort across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, involving teams from University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, and Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust.

The programme highlights the life-changing impact of detecting lung cancer at its earliest, and most treatable, stages.

Bringing screening into the community is a focus of the programme and a key strength is the innovative use of mobile CT scanners, which travel across the peninsula to meet people where they are, like supermarket car parks, community spaces, and high streets. This approach removes traditional barriers to access and acts as a “one-stop shop.”

High-risk patients are fast-tracked directly from triage into scanning, reducing delays and eliminating the risk of missed follow-up appointments.

This model has proven especially effective in reaching underserved and hard-to-reach populations, both geographically and socially. Recent outreach has included work with homeless and transient communities in partnership with Shekinah, Livewell, and Public Health teams, as well as engagement with fishermen, farmers, and rural communities in Devon and Cornwall.

As Health Operations Manager Tracy Cook explains. “It’s a great example of how taking scanning out into the community improves early detection and makes vital services more accessible to people who might otherwise struggle to access them.”

Early detection saves lives and around 80% of cancers identified through the programme are detected at an early stage. This gives many patients a significantly improved chance of successful treatment.

Lung screening remains the only nationally proven intervention to significantly increase early-stage detection.

“This programme has found lung cancers well before they were symptomatic across communities in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Detecting cancers earlier has enabled us to cure the large majority of patients in the programme” says Mr Cyrus Daneshvar, Consultant and Clinical Lead for the programme in Respiratory Medicine at University Hospitals Plymouth.

“This is in stark contrast to traditional symptomatic pathways, which have historically been the cornerstone of cancer services. Importantly, the programme is also reaching communities known to have poorer health outcomes, making its impact even more significant.

Its success reflects the dedication of teams across Devon and Cornwall but ultimately, it is down to patients being willing to participate that has made it such an effective intervention.”

Eligible individuals aged 55 to under 75 who currently smoke or have ever smoked are invited by InHealth for an initial telephone assessment. This covers lung health, lifestyle, and medical history.

Based on risk level, patients may then be offered a low-dose CT scan in a mobile unit. Results determine next steps, including onward referrals or further testing.

The programme also integrates stop smoking support, including a vaping trial that is delivering strong results.

Melanie Edwards, Wellbeing Services Manager at LiveWell, says, “In over 20 years in tobacco control, this is the most successful smoking cessation programme I’ve been involved in. 46% of referrals resulted in appointments being attended, and of those, 40% successfully quit at four weeks.”

The programme has seen high levels of public engagement and support with 64% of the eligible population invited so far.  74% of people took up their initial invitations and 90% attended their recall scans

Collaboration with GP practices and support from local businesses – particularly supermarkets providing space for mobile CT units – has been essential to this success.

Early detection of lung cancer is a central pillar of the NHS Long Term Plan, helping shift care from hospitals into communities and from treatment to prevention.

This milestone demonstrates how innovative, community-based approaches can transform outcomes – saving lives through earlier diagnosis and improved access to care.