NEW ‘life-saving’ health MOTs will be carried out in the workplace to help catch killer diseases early, under new Government plans announced today.
More than 130,000 Brits will be offered NHS checks to help detect conditions like heart disease, kidney disease, as well as diabetes.
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The pilot scheme will see people from a range of professions, including the building, hospitality and transport sectors, as well as social care, invited to take part.
It comes amid fears millions of people, especially men, ignore invitations for the routine NHS Health Check offered to everyone over 40.
Of the 16million people eligible for the check-up, just 40 per cent have taken up the invite, NHS data shows.
The Department of Health said the new programme aims to make it more convenient for people to understand and improve their health, helping to free up NHS appointments and cut waiting lists.
Andrew Gwynne, minister for public health and prevention, said: “We know so many deadly diseases can be avoided if we seek help in enough time.”
“This innovative new programme is an important step towards community-focused healthcare and supporting economic productivity through improving health, shifting the focus from treatment to prevention, easing the strain on the NHS and helping people to live well for longer.”
The Health Check will involve patients answering a short lifestyle questionnaire, followed by a series of quick and easy tests.
Patients will have their blood pressure checked, their height and weight measured and have a simple finger-prick blood test to measure cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Medics will also record a person’s age, gender, smoking status, family history of coronary heart disease, ethnicity, physical activity level, cardiovascular risk score and alcohol use.
David Hargroves, NHS national clinical director for stroke, hopes the scheme will help spot “thousands” of people at risk of major health issues and “save lives”.
He said: “Convenient and efficient NHS checks in the workplace could spot thousands of people at risk of a range of cardiovascular diseases, and with high blood pressure the biggest risk factor for stroke, early detection will undoubtedly save lives.
“This new programme shows the NHS is committed to preventing ill-health and I would urge anyone invited for a check to come forward and get support to improve their cardiovascular health.”
Armed with the right information it’s hoped that people will be able to prevent diseases like heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes and liver disease before they strike.
In addition to the rollout of the workplace checks, the Government also announced a new digital version of the NHS Health Check, which will be ready for testing early next year.
The service, which will be available via the NHS app, will allow people to take the tests from the comfort of their own home.
People living in Norfolk, Medway and Lambeth will be the first in the country to trial the digital tests in early 2025.
How do I get an NHS MOT?
If you’re aged 40 to 74 and do not have a pre-existing health condition you should be invited to an NHS health check by your GP or local council every five years.
If you think you are eligible but have not been invited, contact your GP surgery to find out if they offer NHS health checks.
Alternatively, you can contact your local council to find out where you can get an NHS health check in your area.
Some pharmacies also offer NHS health checks.
Lifestyle tips to reduce risk of biggest killers in every decade of life
CANCER, dementia and heart disease are among the biggest killers in the UK.
Around 167,000 people a year die from cancer, 160,000 from heart disease and 74,000 from dementia.
Around 167,000 people a year die from cancer, 160,000 from heart disease and 74,000 from dementia.
Prevention is better than the cure and simple lifestyle tweaks can help reduce your risk of these conditions.
Eating better, exercising, wearing sunscreen and seeing friends can each play a part in warding off disease.
Here Dr Tom Matthew, from mbewellness.com, tells us how to protect yourself – no matter your age.
IN YOUR 20s
- Stop smoking: lighting up is linked to 15 types of cancer, heart disease, heart attack, stroke and dementia
- Get HPV vaccine: can stop six different types of cancer
- Turn down the volume: protect your hearing for the sake of your brain
IN YOUR 30s
- Join a gym: exercise can increase the risk of cancer, heart disease and dementia
- Stop sunbathing: getting sunburned just once can triple your risk of skin cancer, which can kill
IN YOUR 40s
- Reduce alcohol: boozing is linked to seven types of cancer, heart disease and dementia.
- NHS MOT: it’s free and checks for lots of health issues
- Watch weight: obesity can lead to heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes and can cause 13 different types of cancer
IN YOUR 50s
- See friends: socialising is believed to reduce risk of cancer and dementia
- Screening for cancer: The NHS offers free HPV, bowel and breast cancer checks
- Reduce stress: studies have linked stress to heart disease, potentially as a result of higher blood pressure
IN YOUR 60s & 70s
- Take asprin: It can reduce inflammation in the body which is associated with cancer
- Vital check in men: go to your free NHS abdominal aortic aneurysm screening (you’ll be invited when your 64/65)
- Back to school: Keep learning and socialing to ward of dementia
- Go Mediterranean: it’s full of fibre which can ward off bowel disease
