On 5th February, OUTpatients had the privilege of attending a parliamentary roundtable aimed at addressing the successes and working challenges of Targeted Lung Health Checks (TLHC). Organized by AstraZeneca, the roundtable brought together key stakeholders, including policymakers and members of parliament, healthcare professionals (HCPs), and advocacy groups to discuss progress to date.

Opened by Paul Davies MP and chaired by Mike Birtwistle, Senior Counsel at Incisive Health, we discussed community approaches to ensure the screening pilot reaches underserved communities and how to replicate the regional success nationally through enhanced and sustained funding. We highlighted the importance of equitable access to care for the LGBTIQ+ community and called for targeted campaigns that are culturally representative of our community. We emphasized how policies that support better collaboration between healthcare providers and grassroot organisations can build trust and significantly improve screening uptake rates.

The roundtable provided an invaluable platform for networking and engaging with relevant healthcare professionals leading TLHC programmes in different parts of the UK. Following the roundtable, attendees were also able to meet interested parliamentarians to discuss next steps towards earlier diagnosis of lung cancer. 

Overall, the event marked a significant opportunity for our charity to further its mission and contribute to the shaping of a more inclusive and accessible healthcare system. We are grateful to AstraZeneca for providing us this opportunity and giving us the platform to share our area of expertise.

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