Years ago, I presented a series of BBC TV programmes called Quit Smoking which, over eight weeks, followed a group of people attempting to give up cigarettes. Quitting smoking isn’t easy. I’ve done it myself, but it’s essential if you have a lung complaint.

People need support and encouragement to quit, and in no area is it more important than lung cancer. That’s what’s going to happen with a new national screening programme for lung cancer with support for smoking cessation as part of it.

Researchers at Nottingham University have road-tested smoking cessation support for people receiving lung cancer screening.

Of the people who were smoking at the time of attending screening, over 80% accepted the offer of support to quit. And 30% of these people successfully quit, demonstrating the power of having support. The pay-off is enormous. It’s estimated those who quit smoking between the ages of 55-59 will have half the risk of lung cancer death compared to current smokers. For those aged 55-74, seven years of smoking cessation reduced lung-cancer mortality by 20%.

Professor Rachael Murray of Nottingham University, who led the study, said: “Our research shows with the right support, provided at the right time, we can help people stop smoking for good and save many lives in the process. This group of smokers are particularly highly addicted and need support to stop. Helping them to quit will avoid many future illnesses and improve the outcomes of treatment if they do get sick. It also reduces health inequalities, with these smokers much more likely to be on low incomes and living in disadvantaged circumstances.

“Our research shows with the right support, provided at the right time, we can help people stop smoking for good and save many lives in the process.” A survey last year by charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) revealed a 73% increase in demand for support to stop smoking in local authority areas that already had lung health checks.

This reflects the experience of the Cornish stop smoking service where lung health checks have already been rolled out, linking screening with a specialist stop smoking service, Healthy Cornwall. Lung Health Check staff are trained to refer people to the stop smoking service which is proving to be a great success for those who take up support, with nearly half (47%) being smoke-free at four weeks. Lewis Jones, head of Healthy Cornwall, said: “We welcomed the opportunity to work closely with the Lung Health Check programme to make sure smokers had support.”