Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Dr Liz Fuller
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© Crown 2026.Lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography has been proven to reduce lung-cancer-specific and all-cause mortality. The UK launched the NHS England Targeted Lung Health Check Programme in 2019, which has now become the national Lung Cancer Screening Programme, with full coverage expected by 2030. Here we present the progress and outcomes of the program. People aged 55–74 were offered low-dose computed tomography of the thorax if they had ever smoked and if risk thresholds, as determined by multivariable models, were met. Delivery of the program is through regionally federated clinical infrastructure and leadership, with national strategic, clinical and economic frameworks. The program has invited over two million people, with 7,193 lung cancers diagnosed—63.1% at tumor, node, metastasis stage 1 and 12.6% stage 2—to March 2025. This has increased the early-stage proportion of lung cancer in England over 5 years, particularly in socioeconomically deprived regions. The NHS England Programme exemplifies how large-scale implementation can be achieved at speed through centralized protocols and effective project management. The program has demonstrated feasibility and scalability in reaching high-risk and underserved populations, but needs to further address inequalities in participation. These findings support adoption of lung cancer screening across the UK and globally, and offer practical tools for international adaptation.
Author(s): Lee RW, Nair A, Balata H, Graham C, Parylo C, Abell J, Woodall M, Lawrie M, Mouland S, Brain K, Clark M, Crosbie P, Devaraj A, Fox J, Grange M, Janes SM, Johnson P, Mackie A, Navani N, Quaife SL, Randle A, Rawlinson J, Rintoul RC, Rochelle L, Sasieni P, Callister MEJ, Baldwin DR, Windle T, Weatherhead M, Ward A, Warburton CJ, Walsham AC, Uys S, Taylor R, Sridhar H, Smith C, Ryanna K, Randhawa RS, Richards P, Rajasekaran A, Prasad BS, Powell H, Poole J, Page J, Nimako K, Naidu B, Mohamed PM, Min C, Messenger J, McSwiney S, McMaster N, Mahadevan V, Madathil A, Mackinlay C, Low KE, Ledson M, Hume I, Howells J, Hicks A, Hale C, Grundy S, Graves J, Gill S, Gallardo MG, Fuller ER, Faccenda J, Dosanjh GS, Dickson JL, Desai D, Daneshvar C, Cheyne L, Brindle R, Booton R, Bibby A, Baugh S, Bartholomeuz TR, Azam A, Akhurst E
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Nature Medicine
Year: 2026
Pages: epub ahead of print
Online publication date: 23/03/2026
Acceptance date: 16/02/2026
Date deposited: 21/04/2026
ISSN (print): 1078-8956
ISSN (electronic): 1546-170X
Publisher: Nature Research
URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04292-y
DOI: 10.1038/s41591-026-04292-y
Data Access Statement: The aggregate whole-program data (April 2019–March 2025) and eligibility population data used in Figs. 1 and 2a are not publicly available. These data are managed and stored by NHS England for the purpose of monitoring lung cancer screening activity. Aggregate data may be made available upon request to the NHS England Lung Cancer Screening Programme team (lungcancer.screening@nhs.net). [continues at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04292-y#data-availability and https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04292-y#code-availability]
PubMed id: 41872602
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric
