Dorset County Hospital offers CT scans to smokers

Patients who are deemed to be "high-risk" are offered a low-dose CT scan of their lungs to see if they have cancer

Current and past smokers are being offered lung checks in an NHS programme to catch cancer early.

Over the last 14 months, 1,500 patients from Dorset have taken part in the scheme to tackle lung cancer.

Jenny Graves, a respiratory consultant, called it an amazing opportunity for residents.

She said they targeted people from deprived areas, where cancer rates are higher, such as in Portland, Weymouth and Bournemouth.

Hana Spencely, lead nurse for the targeted lung health check programme, said "low-risk" patients will be monitored every two years

Ms Graves, from Dorset County Hospital, said the disease tends to present at a later stage in those places.

She added: "By going into those areas and developing lung health checks on their doorstep, it allows us to reach out to sometimes harder-to-reach groups and pick up the cancers early."

Hana Spencely is lead nurse for the targeted lung health check programme at the Dorset hospital.

She said "high-risk" patients are offered a low-dose CT scan of their lungs to see if they have cancer.

She also made clear that "low-risk" patients will be monitored every two years until they are over the age of 75.

Norbert Cranny, who smoked for 10 years and has cancer in his family, went to Dorset County Hospital for a scan

Nine patients at the hospital have been found to be in the early stages of the disease.

Norbert Cranny was considered high-risk and went for a scan at the county hospital.

He had smoked for 10 years when he was younger and last year, his brother died from cancer.

Following the check-up, Mr Cranny was given the all clear.

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