'Coughing' bus shelter installed in Ayr town centre
People waiting at the stop can hear the sound
of a man coughing before a woman is heard
urging people to visit their GP if they, or
someone they know, has had a cough for
three weeks or more.
The shelter has been placed in Sandgate, in
Ayr's town centre.
Run by the Scottish government's Detect
Cancer Early campaign, the project aims to
raise awareness of a cough as a key sign of
lung cancer.
The bus shelter also bears the image of a
man coughing, alongside the campaign's
strapline - "Don't get scared, get checked".
Detection "crucial"
Dr Hugh Brown, NHS Ayrshire and Arran's
Primary Care Cancer Lead, welcomed the
"great opportunity" provided by the shelter
"to explain to people the potential
significance of a cough when they're least
expecting it."
He said: "One reason patients are often
diagnosed late is that they are unaware of
the symptoms of lung cancer.
The bus at Sandgate is located beside
Levano's Barber Shop and Ayr Goldsmiths
"I hope this makes a huge impression and
helps get the message across to people in
Ayrshire that it's important if you, or
someone you know, has had a cough for three
weeks or more, it's time to get it checked out.
"It's probably nothing to worry about, but it
could be a sign of lung cancer.
"The disease can develop slowly over a
number of years and often causes no pain. It
is much more treatable than it used to be, but
being switched on to the symptoms and
acting quickly to have them checked by a GP
are crucial - you won't be wasting anyone's
time."
