26th April 2023
Lung cancer screening pilot yields promising results in Kent & Medway
- Targeted Lung Health Checks (TLHC) programme highlights those most at risk of lung cancer
- Using Civica Clinical Pathways (formerly InfoFlex) software, Kent & Medway pilot sees strong take-up among patients with one case of Stage 1 cancer identified to date
A flagship NHS lung cancer screening initiative has delivered promising early results in Kent and Medway.
As part of the NHS Targeted Lung Health Checks (TLHC) programme, Kent & Medway Cancer Alliance invited people with a history of smoking aged 55-75 for a free lung check.
The Alliance needed to proactively identify those most at risk of developing lung cancer. This was achieved by using relevant patient data from GP practices and Civica Clinical Pathways, a software solution that delivers a single view of patient information developed by GovTech leader Civica.
Civica Clinical Pathways has been the longstanding cancer information system at Kent & Medway for 20 years and has been progressively adapted to fit in with ever-changing national and local priorities in cancer care. As the Civica Clinical Pathways infrastructure was already in place, it was quick and simple to implement the new TLHC module.
Ian Vousden,
Programme Director,
Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance
This pilot with Civica is vital so that we can use smart technology to pick up early cancer cases and improve health outcomes for people in our community.
After only operating for a few weeks, the TLHC service has picked up its first patient with stage 1 lung cancer. It means that they will now go for early treatment and have a very good chance of a positive outcome.
Nathan Gasco
Civica Divisional Managing Director (Clinical Information Management)
Health technology is making a real difference to people’s lives and this early screening is vital for finding undetected cancer cases in the community. As a long-standing digital partner at Kent and Medway, we’re delighted that we could move so quickly via our flexible platform, to support early diagnosis and highlight those in need of treatment.
Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer. More than 43,000 people are diagnosed with the condition every year in the UK. There are usually no signs or symptoms in the early stages.
The TLHC programme is currently working with ten projects, including Kent & Medway, but the intention is to expand to other Integrated Care Boards across England to deliver the programme, covering all areas of England from 2024 onwards.