Lung cancer screening programme to be extended thanks to purchase of hi-tech mobile scanner

A lifesaving lung cancer screening programme is to be extended thanks to the purchase of a hi-tech mobile scanner by University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust.

The service is already live in Coventry, Rugby and some parts of north Warwickshire and will roll out in south Warwickshire early in 2026.

The scanner will visit sites across the region from Monday 15^th December and allow the Trust to scan up to 50 people a day, seven days a week.

Appointments will be for smokers or ex-smokers, aged 55 to 74, who have been categorised as high risk following a telephone assessment.

Lung Cancer Screening Operations Manager Caspar Lisle-Pourzyaie said: “We are delighted that more people will benefit from scans aiming to detect tiny nodules in the lungs.

“By introducing our own scanner and transitioning the service in-house, we are enhancing its long-term sustainability.

“Our programme works in partnership with George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and we look forward to working with South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust in 2026.”

For the rest of December, the scanner will be at:

• Hospital of St Cross, Rugby (December 15-17)
• Paybody Centre, Stanton Road, Coventry, (December 18-23)
• Hospital of St Cross, Rugby (December 24)

Since launching in Coventry and Rugby in 2021, 80 per cent of lung cancers diagnosed through the programme have been detected at stages one and two, where treatment options are greater, compared with 20 per cent beforehand.

The scan only takes a few minutes and results are sent by letter. If further tests are needed, the clinical team contacts patients directly. In most cases, no action is required and people are re-invited after two years for another check until they reach the age of 75.

UHCW NHS Trust Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Young added: “This is really positive news. We are committed to delivering easily accessible care in our communities.”

Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer with more than 43,000 people diagnosed every year in the UK, although it's rare in under-40s.

Smoking is the most common cause (accounting for more than 70 per cent of cases). For more details about lung cancer screening, click here.