Telford smokers are finding support after lung checks

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-07-29 17:06 2 min read

An anatomical model of human lungs used in medical health education settings.

More than 1,000 Telford and Wrekin residents have been referred to stop-smoking support since mobile lung screening checks began in spring 2026, with some appointments also uncovering early signs of serious health problems.

The programme has made 1,091 referrals, while 543 people have booked a stop-smoking appointment. So far, 156 people have reached a four-week quit milestone and 90 have remained smoke-free for 12 weeks.

Mobile checks offer more than cancer screening

The Lung Cancer Screening Programme is provided locally by Alliance Medical in partnership with Xyla Healthcare and NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

It offers lung health checks to adults aged 55 to 74 who have a history of smoking. Where appropriate, residents can then be referred for free stop-smoking advice and support through the Council’s Healthy Lifestyle Team.

The results also show the potential value of offering support alongside screening. Most of those who reached the 12-week quit milestone had smoked for 40 years or more, according to the programme.

One resident quit after health warnings from a scan

One resident said he had smoked since the age of six and had previously tried patches, gum, hypnosis and acupuncture. He was encouraged to seek help after a scan at the mobile unit identified early signs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and narrowing of the veins around his heart.

Telford smokers are finding support after lung checks

He described the stop-smoking course as the push he needed, adding that the hardest part was getting started. Support from the Healthy Lifestyle Team, together with quiet encouragement from his wife and two adult sons, helped him continue.

Since quitting, he said he no longer smells of smoke, has stopped snoring and is around £200 better off. He now encourages others offered stop-smoking support to take it up, saying: “I hope others find the same success I did.”

Support remains available across Telford and Wrekin

Cllr Kelly Middleton, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Unlocking Opportunities for All, said the figures were backed by the stories of residents who had smoked for decades before deciding to quit.

She credited the Healthy Lifestyle Team and NHS partners, and said quitting smoking was one of the best steps people could take for their health.

The lung screening programme continues across Telford and Wrekin. Eligible adults can receive a lung health check and, where appropriate, a referral to free stop-smoking support. People who want to quit can also contact the Council’s Healthy Lifestyle Team without having been referred through screening.

Source: Telford and Wrekin Council Newsroom

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source check

This report was checked against the Telford and Wrekin Council Newsroom source and its programme figures, eligibility details and quoted accounts.

Checks

Checked the referral, appointment and quit figures against the supplied council report.
Checked the stated age range and smoking-history eligibility.
Checked the named delivery partners and the spring 2026 start date.
Separated the resident’s reported experience from the programme-wide results.

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