Key Points
- NHS is offering free Lung Health Checks – dubbed an ‘MOT for your lungs’ – to current and former cigarette or shisha smokers in Horwich this summer.
- Eligible individuals are those aged 55–74, registered with specific Horwich GP practices.
- Invitations are sent by post or text; appointments take place on a mobile clinic parked in community locations, available from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday.
- The initiative is part of a broader Greater Manchester programme aimed at early lung cancer detection, rolling out to areas of high need.
- Participants complete a questionnaire and consult with a nurse; around half will be offered a low-dose CT scan on the same day.
- More than 900 patients have already been diagnosed through the scheme across Greater Manchester, with nearly 80% caught at a treatable early stage.
- The programme is jointly delivered by Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
- Individuals unable to attend their appointment can reschedule via a booking line.
- Residents are urged by NHS officials and partner organisations not to ignore their invitation letter as it could save their life.
Current and former cigarette or shisha smokers in Horwich, Greater Manchester, are set to receive invitations for an NHS ‘MOT for their lungs’ this summer, in a drive to identify lung cancer at the earliest, most treatable stage. The free Lung Health Checks are part of a wider initiative being deployed across the region, targeting individuals most at risk and bringing vital diagnostic services directly to the community in a mobile clinic.
Who is eligible for the free lung health checks in Horwich?
As reported by the editorial team at the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, people aged between 55 and 74 who are current or former smokers—including those who have used cigarettes or shisha—will be invited for a free Lung Health Check if they’re registered with a GP in the Horwich Primary Care Network. The specific participating GP surgeries are:
- Kildonan House – BL6 5NW
- Pike View Medical Centre – BL6 5PY
- Bolton Community Practice – BL1 8TT
According to the public notice issued by the NHS, eligibility relies on a history of smoking, not just ongoing tobacco use, thus addressing both recent and former smokers.
How will the Lung Health Checks be organised and delivered?
As confirmed by the press release from Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, eligible residents will be contacted via post or text message, inviting them to book a slot for their assessment. The clinics will operate Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm, ensuring flexible access.
Appointments are held in a mobile health clinic—an NHS-branded van stationed at a prominent community location—removing the need to visit hospital settings for initial screening.
Should an individual be unable to attend their booked appointment, provisions are in place for straightforward rescheduling via the scheme’s dedicated booking line.
What does the Lung Health Check involve?
Dr. Tarek Bakht, Clinical Lead for Cancer at NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board in Bolton, shared in a statement to Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance:
“Lung Health Checks help the NHS to spot any lung cancer symptoms earlier, when it is much more treatable. Please do come along for your appointment. You’ll have a chat with a nurse and fill out a questionnaire to look at your risk. About half of the people who visit may also need a low-dose scan which we will also do on the truck. It will most likely offer you some reassurance. But it could save your life!”
Initial consultations involve a discussion with a trained nurse and a lifestyle questionnaire assessing lung cancer risk factors such as smoking history and symptoms. If assessed as higher risk, patients are immediately offered a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan, performed within the mobile clinic on the same day.
This approach aims to minimise inconvenience and anxiety for patients, streamlining the entire screening process into a single visit whenever possible.
What has been the impact of similar screenings in Greater Manchester?
As of summer 2025, more than 900 cases of lung cancer have been diagnosed due to such checks in Greater Manchester, the majority at stages 1 or 2. As reported by the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, this early-stage diagnosis enables curative treatment in nearly 80% of cases, vastly improving outcomes compared to later-stage detection.
The success of the initiative builds on previous rollouts in other Bolton areas—including Rumworth, Farnworth and Kearsley, HWL Breightmet, Little Lever, and the Chorley Roads area—where similar strategies have led to increased early diagnosis rates.
Why is this screening important for former smokers and shisha users as well?
According to simplified risk assessments published by the NHS and referenced by the Cancer Alliance, individuals who have ever smoked, whether they quit recently or many years ago, remain at elevated risk for lung cancer compared to never smokers. Extending the programme to both cigarette and shisha users ensures it addresses the entire at-risk population, reflecting respiratory disease patterns seen across Greater Manchester.
As referenced by Yahoo News UK’s health desk, the ability of screening and low-dose CT scans to provide “reassurance or vital early warning” is seen as especially important for this cohort. The campaign’s message is clear: do not ignore your invitation—even if you feel healthy, the check could be life-saving.
What statements have NHS and cancer alliance leaders made about the lung check campaign?
Dr. Tarek Bakht, speaking to the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, reinforced the campaign’s urgency:
“If you’re registered with a doctor mentioned on the list from the Bolton area, are a smoker or used to smoke either shisha or cigarettes, you’ll be sent an invite through the post or via text message. Please do come along for your appointment… It could save your life!”
Additionally, communications from NHS Greater Manchester and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust emphasise that most visitors to the check will be given reassurance that no further action is needed, yet participation is essential for maximising early detection and minimising cancer mortality across the region.
How does this initiative fit within wider cancer screening efforts?
According to the rolling programme reported by the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, the Horwich Lung Health Check is part of a multi-year regional strategy to reduce health inequalities and boost survival rates for life-threatening diseases. Efforts are being made to ensure coverage across Greater Manchester, prioritising areas with demonstrated need and adapting service delivery to local contexts, such as bringing screening clinics to supermarkets, shopping centres, and other community locations.
Communications published online confirm similar programmes expanding in Wigan, Urmston, Partington, and Stockport, reaching a broader population across Greater Manchester this year.
What should eligible residents do if they receive an invitation?
As urged by the team at Yahoo News UK,
“Do not ignore the letter which could save your life.”
All eligible individuals are strongly encouraged to accept their invitation promptly and, if unable to attend, to use the booking line provided to reschedule their appointment for a more convenient time.
The checks are free, confidential, and designed for minimal inconvenience. Support and information are available from surgeries, the booking helpline, and dedicated online resources.
What happens after the check?
As further detailed by NHS sources, most people who undergo the lung check receive reassurance and require no additional treatment. If the initial consultation or CT scan highlights any concerns, prompt follow-up investigations and specialist support are provided through the NHS and Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance partners.
How can the community and primary care providers promote the Lung Health Checks?
Organisations across Greater Manchester are urged to support awareness efforts. The Cancer Alliance has called on local community venues to help promote the checks and encourages suggestions for event locations or outreach opportunities. Healthcare professionals, primary care networks, and patient groups are also sharing the message on social media and through local communications.
The ‘MOT for your lungs’ programme in Horwich represents the latest push by the NHS and partner organisations to tackle lung cancer through early detection, targeting those most at risk within the community. By bringing mobile clinics directly to residents and combining personal conversations with advanced scanning technology, the scheme aims to provide both reassurance and lifesaving intervention for hundreds of people across Greater Manchester this summer.
As Dr. Tarek Bakht and many others have stressed: if you receive an invitation for a lung health check, attending could be one of the best decisions you ever make.