Coventry people now have the chance to see into the future and reduce the risk of developing serious life-threatening diseases, thanks to a new project launched in local pharmacies.
NHS Coventry has launched a scheme where community pharmacists are offering people aged over 40 the ‘NHS Healthy Life Check’, which uses computer software to predict their risk of getting heart problems and other diseases like diabetes.
And the pharmacists will be able to help people make healthier lifestyle choices which will reduce any risks that might have been identified.
“This is a simple, 20 minute health screening service provided through the community pharmacists in the city,” said Laurence Tressler, deputy head of medicines management for NHS Coventry, which has organised the project. It involves cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose checks carried out in the pharmacy. The NHS Healthy Life Check uses computer software to calculate each person’s risk of getting heart disease, based upon their readings and lifestyle choices.
“They can then see how that picture could change if they made certain changes to their lifestyle, like quitting smoking, losing weight or exercising more.”
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of premature death and ill health in the UK and, in 2004, was estimated to cost the NHS a total of £15.7 billion. Nearly 10,000 people in Coventry are known to have cardiovascular disease, which is almost three per cent of the population, and there are over 800 deaths a year in the city from it each year. The total cost to the NHS in the area of this kind of disease every year is around £30 million.
The Government announced plans in 2008 for health checks, including cardiovascular disease screening, to be available for people aged between 40 and 74, saying that computer models predicted that such checks could save around 2,000 lives a year nationally.
So far, 33 pharmacists in Coventry have been trained to offer the NHS Health Life Check and more may become involved.
Gam Amar, chair of Coventry Local Pharmaceutical Committee and proprietor of the Allesley Pharmacy in Birmingham Road, has so far carried out around 40 Healthy Life Checks at his shop – and 15 of those tested were found to have a substantial risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
“As a result we have referred those 15 people to their GPs so that they can get help, either through medication or lifestyle changes, to reduce their risk,” said Mr Amar. “I would encourage as many people as possible aged over 40 to have these checks with a pharmacy – for many it will be reassuring but for others it could even be a life-saver.”
Grandmother Mrs Yvonne Shipton, aged 59, who lives in Allesley, agreed, saying: “My results were brilliant, which just shows that the action I took a year ago in giving up smoking and taking up regular walking have really improved my health.
”Pharmacists will, where necessary, tell people where they can get help to quit smoking or lose weight – and will be on the alert to recommend anyone who should see a doctor to go to a GP.