Health Checks

Introductions

Today’s Layout 14:00 – 14:30 Welcome and Introductions Update from Hospital Discharges Slot for any updates from Go To people 14:30 – 15:30 Intro to consultation Warmer Background Questions 15:30 – 15:45 Break 15:45 – 17:00 Next GIG Meeting Radio team GIG Heads up Evaluation forms Close

Ground rules Keep to the topic! Maintain confidentiality Participate, do not dominate Only share what you are comfortable sharing Be open to hearing other points of view

Background The NHS Health Check programme aims to help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease and certain types of dementia. Everyone between the ages of 40 and 74, who has not already been diagnosed with one of these conditions or have certain risk factors, will be invited (once every five years) to have a check and assess their risk of these diseases. The programme then works to give them support and advice to help reduce or manage that risk.

Measuring your height (to help calculate your body mass index (BMI)) Weighing you (for BMI) Taking your blood pressure (using a gauge that uses a cuff fitted over your upper arm) Taking a sample of blood to measure your cholesterol level Questions about you (such as your age), your medical history (such as whether you have previously had heart or circulation problems), your family history (whether any of your close relatives have had medical problems) and any symptoms of diabetes (such as the need to urinate a lot) Questions about your lifestyle (such as your level of physical activity, whether you smoke and how much you drink) If necessary, you may need further tests, such as a finger-prick test to measure your blood glucose if the healthcare professional thinks that you may have diabetes What does a Health Check involve?

The Evidence A Department of Health statistical model estimated that NHS Health Checks would prevent 1,600 heart attacks and strokes, at least 650 premature deaths, and over 4,000 new cases of diabetes each year. However, some researchers have found no difference in the prevalence of diseases such as diabetes in GP practices that offer NHS Health Checks and those that don't. Proponents of Health Checks argue this could be for a number of reasons, and the real affects will only be known after a longer period of time They also don’t take into account the benefits that come from having a health check where no problems are found. For instance, the health check may lead to greater awareness and discussion of a person's BMI, diet, cholesterol, physical activity, smoking and alcohol intake. This could lead to the person making healthy lifestyle changes that could then decrease their risk of actually developing these chronic diseases.

Lead – in Activity Heart disease Were you paying attention…? Arthritis TrueFalse

Diabetes Kidney disease Asthma Malaria True False True False

Depression Dementia Mouth cancer True False Stroke

Key Questions. Have you had an NHS Health Check before?

Key Questions. Have you recently had your blood pressure checked?

Break time

Key Questions. Would you go to your GP if invited for a health check? If not why not?

Key Questions. Where else would you like to go for a health check?

Key Questions. How would you like to be invited to go for a health check?

Key Questions. Where would you expect to get information on Health Checks from?

Key Questions. There is a new outreach service - comprised of a support worker working with community groups and volunteers to increase awareness of health checks. They will also work with practices to follow up those invited for a check. How should the outreach service raise awareness of NHS health checks?

Key Questions. Would you use the outreach service? If not, why not?

Key Questions. How can we encourage people to have a health check?

Key Questions. How could GP surgeries help people to improve their own health, e.g. stop smoking, lose weight, reduce alcohol intake, cancer screening (breast, cervical & bowel)?

Key Questions. Anything else?

What happens next. Responses from meeting and survey collated Report with recommendations fed to CCG CCG will give us a timeframe to respond to our recommendations We will feed these back to you via and on our blog.

Next GIG Meeting Focus Meeting: Disability Awareness in EDUCATION 13/05/15 Space for Change