Southwark's free health checks are 'best practice'

Southwark's free health checks that are being run in partnership with the NHS have been praised as best practice. The checks are provided by trained professionals from the NHS and Southwark Council's public health team, and the government has recently said that they are an example of a best practice project.

The checks provided are simple and non-invasive and can help to identify a number of health problems that borough residents may not have been aware of. Helping to identify problems, or those who might be at risk from developing illnesses in the future, means that residents are able to get the care they need at an earlier stage.

One of the checks provided by the free health checks is the dementia check. Southwark is one of the early adopters of this type of examination, which helps to identify those that might be at risk of developing dementia. This allows the council to provide high levels of health and support to those that are recognised as becoming possible sufferers of dementia.

Doctor Jonty Heaversedge, health checks champion for Southwark, said: "The health checks systematically target the top seven causes of preventable deaths: high blood pressure, smoking, cholesterol, obesity, poor diet, physical inactivity and alcohol consumption. It’s a simple check that could potentially add years to your life."

So far, a total of 5,602 residents within the Borough of Southwark have opted to have a free health check in the last year. Of those people, more than 1,500 were identified as having an illness or being high risk of developing one. It is estimated that another 65,000 residents are eligible for the checks and so Southwark Council are encouraging them to have a check performed.

Catherine McDonald, cabinet member for health, adult social care and equalities, said: "Health checks are free and only take a few minutes, but they could make a huge difference to people's lives.

"If we can detect conditions early, we are better able to cure them, or prevent them becoming serious in the first place. Arrange a health check with your GP or pop into one of our mobile health check units."

 

Published 15th August, 2013

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