Bolton named second-most proactive place when it comes to health

15 Aug 2019 03:05
Published by: Kian French

People in Bolton could be at a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than other parts of the country, according to a new report by Medicspot.

The town has been named the second-most proactive region in England when it comes to health.

The report compares regional NHS data on the utilisation of Health Checks, a free service offered by the NHS to everyone aged 40-74 to prevent premature death from heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and type 2 diabetes.

The report comes after research revealed free NHS checks reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study found that over a six-year period, participants of the Health Check programme had lost weight, lowered blood pressure and fewer were smokers.

Lead researcher Samah Alageel said: "These results show the NHS Health Check programme carries a potential for reducing cardiovascular risk through the early assessment and management of risk."

People in Bolton are leading the way when it comes to being proactive about their health. 88% of people who are eligible have claimed a free NHS Health Check in the last five years - the second-highest uptake in England, after Hammersmith and Fulham in London.

In other areas of the North West such as Manchester, only 56% of the eligible population received a free NHS Health Check.

Dr Johnson D'souza, Medical Director and GP at Medicspot, said: "It's great to see that the majority of people in Bolton are getting a Health Check, 45% higher than the national average."

D'souza explains: "These checks help to spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and dementia."

"By checking your blood pressure, lifestyle, family history, height and weight, we can get an idea of your risk of getting certain illnesses including heart disease, stroke and diabetes," explains D'souza.

People in Bolton may be the healthiest in the country. By making the most of the NHS Health Check scheme, they could see a longer life expectancy than people in other areas of the country.

Despite being much higher than the national average, there are still 12% of eligible people in Bolton who have not taken up the offer of a free Health Check in the past five years.

People in Bolton who are aged 40-74 can get a free NHS Health Check from their GP or local pharmacy. You would normally receive a letter from your GP or local authority inviting you for a health check every five years. However, you can also request one yourself by asking your GP or contacting Bolton Clinical Commission Group directly to find out how you can get one.

Bolton ranks second-most proactive in England when it comes to heath

88% of people eligible for a free NHS health check in Bolton have received an appointment.

  1. Hammersmith and Fulham - 93%
  2. Bolton - 88%
  3. Ealing - 81%
  4. Westminster - 81%
  5. Bury - 80%
  6. Tower Hamlets - 79%
  7. Newham - 76%
  8. Isles of Scilly - 75%
  9. Hounslow - 74%
  10. Wandsworth - 72%

The full report from Medicspot is available here

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