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What are Community Health Checks?

The Community Health Check project is an innovative initiative funded by Public Health aimed at enhancing the reach and impact of NHS Health Checks.

Health Checks help people who are aged between 40-74 identify their risk of:

  • Heart disease (CVD or Cardiovascular Disease)
  • Diabetes
  • Kidney disease
  • Stroke

 

Our programme focuses on delivering health assessments within the community, particularly targeting groups with historically low uptake rates.

 

These include men, individuals who misuse drugs and alcohol, people from Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, and residents in the most deprived areas of Wirral. By bringing health checks directly to these communities, we aim to improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and promote overall health and wellbeing.

Why Community Health Checks are Important

Community Health Checks helps address health inequalities and improve access to preventive health services. Traditional NHS Health Checks are often conducted within GP Practices, which can be difficult for some people.

 

As we get older, we have a higher risk of developing one of these conditions, and by increasing access to these checks helps us to find ways to lower these risks and support with prevention of other long-term health conditions.

 

This service is provided in line with NHS England CORE20PLUS5 improvement approach to support the reduction of health inequalities at both national and system level. By providing health checks in community settings, we can overcome barriers related to accessibility, cultural sensitivity, and trust.

 

Key benefits:

  1. Enhanced reach: By delivering health checks within the community, we can reach more people and support the objectives of NHS Health Check delivery. This is particularly important for finding people with high blood pressure (hypertension).
  2. Addressing health inequalities: Community Health Checks target populations that may face higher levels of ‘unhealthy’ behavior and risk factors. By focusing on these groups, we can reduce differences in health outcomes and ensure that preventive care reaches those who need it most.
  3. Additional capacity: Our community-based model helps provide extra capacity and reaching people who may not typically access healthcare services through traditional channels.
  4. Cultural understanding: Many community organisations have more knowledge about cultural nuances and specific needs of the populations they assist. This allows them to provide care and support that is culturally sensitive and tailored to individual preferences and backgrounds.
  5. Holistic approach: Our approach goes beyond physical health to address social, emotional, and environmental factors that influence health outcomes. This strategy aligns with the goals of NHS Health Checks and promotes overall wellbeing.
  6. Utilising technology: We use the Health Diagnostics system, to capture and share health check data with GP practices. This integration ensures that critical health information is effectively managed and acted upon.

Who is Eligible for a NHS Health Check?

The NHS Health Check is available to adults in England aged 40 to 74 who have not been diagnosed with certain pre-existing conditions. People who are eligible are invited for a health check once every five years. The check includes a range of tests and questions about health and lifestyle, designed to identify early signs of conditions that can be prevented through lifestyle changes or treatment.

 

People who aren’t currently eligible for checks are those who have already been diagnosed with conditions such as heart disease, chronic kidney disease, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, or those who are currently being prescribed statins to lower cholesterol, as these individuals are already receiving regular health monitoring.

 

For people who may not qualify for a full Health Check, we and our delivery partners offer something called a ‘Mini Health Check’ or a ‘Health MOT’ where it includes the same questions and process, just without the cholesterol checks.

 

What does a Health Check involve?

The check will only take around 30 minutes where you will sit down with a trained member of staff who will discuss your family health history and any current medical conditions. They’ll then go on to measure your:

  • Height
  • Weight
  • BMI
  • Cholesterol (for full Health Checks only)
  • Blood pressure
  • QRISK score (to identify those patients who are at risk of heart disease)
  • Diabetes risk score

 

 

  • If during your Health Check you show to have high blood pressure, this leaflet is a good one for finding out more about it and what you can do.
  • If you were told that your cholesterol is looking a little high, British Heart Foundation’s and the Happy Hearts pages are really helpful – breaking down what it is and what can be done to help you lower it.
  • The NHS’s blood pressure tool is also a fairly simple way to find out what range your blood pressure reading is in.

Where can you get a Community Health Check in Wirral?

 

Have a look to see which of the Community Health Check delivery partners is the most convenient for you and get in touch to arrange.

 

Front of Community Health Check Scheme leaflet with contact details for One Wirral CIC and information about eligibility.Reverse of Community Health Check flyer with information about what is included in the Health Check or Mini Health Check and also logos of the delivery partners.

It was so much easier for me to get to the community centre than the doctors surgery. Transport is a big issue for me and especially now with cost of living rises it’s becoming harder to pay for public transport so being able to walk over to my community centre and having a health check done was amazing.

I'm a bit of a health ostrich and I just bury my head rather than getting things like blood pressure or cholesterol checked. I would never in a million years book something like that at the GP surgery! Because this was in the workplace it seemed less scary and...I was pleasantly surprised by some of the results. It was more thorough than I was expecting and it's given me a renewed focus on what I need to do, so I am very grateful.

It was both reassuring and also motivating to think about my health and some small steps I can take to recommend it. I have never had my lipids checked before that looks at Cholestrol, so that was really good and interesting to understand the results in a clear simple way. I would recommend the check to everyone!

It was a really positive experience for me, providing evidence that the good choices with food and exercise that I really try hard to make (!) are paying off. I found out that my heart is a few years younger than my age which given my family history makes me very happy!!

Does your organisation need Health Checks? Get in touch!

Community Health Checks

Whether your organisation would like us to provide Health Checks for your staff, or you would like some more information - please complete the details below and a member of the team will get in touch.
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