Archive for January, 2010

 NHS Wandsworth has been ranked among the top 11 PCTs in the country for its work offering NHS Health Checks to the local population. The joint report by Carers UK, Heart UK and the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society (PCSS) praised the PCT for making ‘excellent progress’ with the national scheme which will save hundreds of lives each year.

The Checks aim to prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease by helping people to change their lifestyle, improve their health and live longer and healthier lives. GPs across Wandsworth are already running the Health Checks which are offered free to adults between 40 and 74 who have not previously been diagnosed with these conditions.  Eligible adults will receive an invitation from their GP to attend a check every five years  – patients will be asked some simple questions about their family history, and any medication they are taking, get their height and weight recorded and the chance to have some useful tests for blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease – known collectively as vascular disease – are the single biggest cause of long-term ill health and disability, and affect the quality of life for over 4 million people in England.   NHS Wandsworth will be offering the health checks to those with greatest need first, such as those with a strong family history of premature vascular disease, certain ethnic groups and those from some of the borough’s most deprived wards.  

 Amanda Cranston, Consultant in Public Health and leader of the health check scheme in Wandsworth said ‘’The NHS Health Checks will make a huge difference to the lives of those who are at high risk of developing serious disease.  The check will only take 20-30 minutes but by identifying any potential health problems it could improve someone’s life expectancy significantly”

A mobile unit will be visiting key sites around the borough in the coming weeks, making it as easy as possible for adults to get checked. The checks will be available free to adults between 40 and 74 who live in Wandsworth or are registered with a Wandsworth GP and who have not previously been diagnosed with heart disease, stroke, diabetes or kidney disease.  Dates are as follows:

Thursday 14^th and Friday 15^th January, 10am – 4pm, Car park of Asda, Clapham Junction, 204 Lavender Hill, SW11 1JG  

Saturday 16^th January, 10am – 4pm, Car park of Sainsburys/Gala Bingo Tooting, 71-77 Tooting High Street, SW17 0RN

For more information contact Lorraine Bridges, Communications Manager, Tel 020 8812 7550, email Lorraine.Bridges@wpct.nhs.uk