'Drop-in’ chest x-ray service intended to catch lung cancer early continues in Rochdale

Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton residents are still able to get a hassle-free chest x-ray at their local hospital without booking an appointment.

Since the COVID pandemic hit, the NHS has reported that the number of people coming into hospitals to get checked for lung cancer has significantly reduced.

In a bid to avoid unnecessary illness, catch the condtion early, and offer treatment to anyone who may need it, the NHS is offering a valuable new service that is expected to help identify patients who may be at risk.

Since Monday 11 July, members of the public residing in Rochdale, Bury, Heywood and Middleton have been able to access a hassle-free chest x-ray at their local hospital, without having to see a GP, or even book an appointment in advance.

Getting checked has never been easier, and the service has been a great success so far, with lots of people reportedly dropping into the relevant hospitals. The NHS is encouraging those who are experiencing ongoing symptoms which could indicate lung problems, to keep on coming forward and take advantage of this new, no-appointment necessary service.

The roll out of this scheme not only intends to offer peace of mind for many, who may be experiencing niggling worries about their health, but to also expose the cases which may need extra attention quickly.

Conditions like lung cancer are much more treatable when they are caught early, so this service hopes to make timely diagnoses, and to help prolong life.

The new initiative will be operating in the radiology departments at Fairfield Hospital, The Royal Oldham Hospital and Rochdale Infirmary, between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and 9am-12pm on Saturdays.

Dr Seamus Grundy, a Consultant Respiratory Physician working in Greater Manchester, said: "We know people live busy lives and often don’t feel able to take time out of their day to make an appointment to get checked, so we’re offering this service to the public as an easy way to check for potential lung problems.

"If you have any of the symptoms mentioned please don’t put it off - come along for a chest x-ray. It could be that peace of mind you need, and if we do find anything that needs attention, we can arrange any further tests or treatment you might need.”

Who is eligible?

Anyone who is registered with a GP in Bury, Heywood, Middleton or Rochdale, who is over the age of 40, and who are experiencing the following symptoms for longer than three weeks, will be eligible to access this service at any of the hospitals listed without seeing their GP first:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Appetite loss
• Coughing up blood* (Patients with this symptom should see their GP as an emergency or call 111)

Julie Colville, a lung cancer patient from South Manchester, said: "Nobody wants to hear they have a health problem and especially not something like lung cancer. But it's crucial to know if something isn't quite right so that you can get treatment if you need it. I’d encourage anyone who meets the criteria for this new service to go along for your chest x-ray to get some peace of mind – finding out early is everything.”

The new x-ray service for patients in Bury, Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale is the first stage of a pilot which hopes to improve patient outcomes in lung cancer in the area. It represents a Joint Working partnership between the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance and AstraZeneca UK.

Gero Struebbe, Franchise Head of Lung Cancer & Immuno-Oncology for AstraZeneca UK, said: "We are proud to partner with Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance to support this service, which aligns with the AstraZeneca UK's ambition to drive earlier diagnoses and treatment to improve lung cancer outcomes in the UK.”

This service is available in the Radiology Departments at Fairfield Hospital in Bury, The Royal Oldham Hospital and Rochdale Infirmary from Monday to Friday between 8am to 8pm, and Saturday from 9am to 12 noon. Residents who are eligible can attend any of the sites.

No prior appointment is required. For more information, visit www.gmcancer.org.uk/chestxray.