NHS check if you need a lung scan privacy policy

Who we are

NHS England is running a pilot of the Check if you need a lung scan digital service.

Why we use your data

We use your information to evaluate whether a digital questionnaire can safely and effectively support lung cancer screening alongside the existing telephone service.

What data we use

This includes information you provide in the questionnaire, limited details from NHS login, and (if you complete both routes) responses from the telephone screening so they can be compared.

Your choice

Taking part is voluntary. You can choose not to take part or withdraw at any time. This will not affect your NHS care.

How we protect your data

Your data is kept secure, access is restricted, and personal identifiers are removed once analysis is complete.

More information

Read the full privacy notice below to understand how your data is used, shared, stored, and what your rights are.

1. About this service

NHS check if you need a lung scan is a pilot by NHS England and allows you to complete a lung health check online before you complete your phone appointment. The pilot is designed to evaluate whether a digital questionnaire can operate as effectively as the existing telephone based lung cancer screening service.

The pilot is for service evaluation purposes only and does not form part of routine clinical care.

2. Who we are

Data Controller: NHS England

NHS England is responsible for deciding how and why your personal data is used as part of this pilot.

3. What data we collect

If you choose to take part, we may collect:

• NHS number
• Name
• Email address

This information is provided through NHS login to allow secure access.

Information you provide in the questionnaire:

• Date of birth
• Smoking history
• Height and weight
• Sex at birth and gender identity
• Ethnicity
• Education level
• Relevant health, lifestyle, and family history information

When you complete the telephone screening, NHS England receives the telephone responses so they can be compared with the digital responses as part of the evaluation.

On completion of both the digital service and phone screening appointment, your name and email address will be used to issue a participation voucher.

4. How we use your information

We use your information to:

• Evaluate whether the digital questionnaire works as safely and accurately as the telephone screening
• Compare digital and telephone screening responses
• Understand clarity, usability, and accessibility of the digital service
• Inform decisions about future service design

We do not use your information to:

• Provide diagnoses
• Make clinical decisions
• Replace existing screening pathways

Participation in the pilot is voluntary. Where you choose to take part, we rely on your consent to:

• participate in the digital pilot
• allow comparison of digital and telephone screening responses
• administer participation incentives where applicable

You can withdraw from the pilot at any time without affecting your NHS care.

5. Who we share your information with

Your information may be shared with:

• InHealth, to enable comparison between digital and telephone screening responses
• NHS England technical and analysis teams, limited to staff who need access to support the pilot
• Edenred, where applicable, to issue participation vouchers (name and email address only)

We do not sell your data or use it for marketing.

6. How long information is kept

How long we keep your information:

• Identifiable pilot data is kept only for the duration of the pilot and up to three months afterwards
• Personal identifiers are removed once analysis is complete
• An anonymised and aggregated dataset may be retained for up to 10 years to support service evaluation and regulatory requirements
• All data is managed in line with the NHS Records Management Code of Practice

7. The law and your information

The law allows the NHS to use information:

• to invite people for screening
• to keep screening services safe and effective

You can find out more here.

8. Your rights and getting help

You have rights over your personal information.

These include the right to:

• ask what information the NHS holds about you
• ask for a copy of your screening results

If you want to access your screening results, contact your GP or local screening service.

9. Ask a question or find out more

If you have a general question about using the NHS check if you need a lung scan, you can contact us by email at: england.digitallungcancerscreening@nhs.net