The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust marked the first anniversary of its Lung Cancer Screening Programme with a special event held on Monday 29th September at The Copthorne Hotel. The celebration brought together healthcare professionals, community leaders, and partners to reflect on the programme’s achievements and its life-saving impact over the past year, and was formally opened by the Deputy Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Mushtaq Hussain.

Since its launch in August last year, the Lung Cancer Screening Programme has invited almost 19,000 people to screening, completed 9,385 telephone triages, 3,985 face to face appointments and detected over 30 cancers.

Dr. Mazhar Chaudri, clinical director, Dudley Lung Cancer Screening Programme, said: “Since launching the Dudley Lung Cancer Screening Programme last summer, we’ve detected lung cancers at a much earlier stage than usual – giving people a far better chance of successful treatment and survival.”

The anniversary event featured a video testimonial from a participant who benefited from early detection, along with information stands to raise awareness about the importance of screening, risk factors, and healthy lifestyle choices from partners. Attendees also had the opportunity to meet the dedicated healthcare professionals behind the programme.

Michael Higgs from Kingswinford attended a screening appointment and during his appointment his cancer was detected early. He told us: “Never in a million years did I think they would find anything, but I had a phone call after the screening and before I knew it I was in New Cross Hospital having half my lung out.

“If I hadn’t answered the text message I don’t know where I would be now. People really need to go for their screening as they won’t have any idea they have anything growing inside them if they don’t.

“It has definitely saved my life. It has been 12 months since I had my scan in the mobile unit in Morrisons Car Park and I assume if I hadn’t, it would be untreatable by now.”

Residents aged 55-74 with a history of smoking are contacted by their GPs and are offered a telephone health check to establish whether they require a more in-depth appointment with a specialist nurse and a CT scan to check for any signs of cancer. The scans are carried out in mobile units located at convenient community locations across Dudley.

Diane Wake, group chief executive at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, added: “We are proud of what we have achieved in just one year. This programme is a testament to the power of early intervention, collaboration, and community engagement. We look forward to building on this success and expanding our efforts to reach even more people at risk.”

The programme also aligns closely with the NHS Ten Year Plan, which places a strong emphasis on prevention rather than treatment — ensuring resources are directed towards early action that saves lives and reduces the future burden on healthcare services.

The event concluded by highlighting the importance of Lung Cancer Screening and urged those that have been invited to attend their screening to please do so.
If anyone previously invited did not take up the offer of screening at that time, for whatever reason, they can still make an appointment by contacting the team on 01384 884384.