A scheme offering free lung checks to supermarket shoppers was a huge success with 150 people taking up the offer.
People who went to the Sainsbury’s store in Brentwood were able to have checks done for free last month.
The purpose of the scheme, which was backed by NHS South West Essex, was to inform shoppers about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which are a number of conditions caused by long term lung damage.
Out of the 150 people who were examined through the simple breathing tests, 20 were referred to their doctor.
Emily Hughes, who is leading the work into COPD at NHS South West Essex, was happy with the response.
She said: “We were really pleased with the amount of people we managed to screen and would urge anyone who suffers with shortness of breath when exercising or moving around, who has had a cough for a long time, or who wheezes or feels chesty or has bronchitis, to go to their doctor and get checked out.”
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