How you can look after your health for free
It is a simple 20-minute test that can determine a person’s risk of suffering from various health problems over the next 10 years.
Aimed at city residents aged 40 to 64, free healthy heart checks are being offered by NHS Hull, the city’s primary care trust.
They are designed to act as a quick health “MOT” to determine the risk of developing problems such as heart disease or stroke.
As part of the Mail’s Bounce Back campaign, which is aiming to help the region out of the recession, we are highlighting how people can look after their health without the worry of cost.
The healthy heart checks analyse lifestyle factors, such as smoking, diet and levels of physical activity, which determine the risk, as well as clinical measurements such as blood pressure, cholesterol level and weight and measurement checks.
The Hull Healthy Hearts team travels to various community venues and workplaces across the city to carry out the checks on a regular basis.
Terry Dunn, 56, of Hull city centre, is the managing director of ESP Systex in Holderness Road, east Hull, and is among those who have undergone a healthy heart check.
He said: “I booked myself in because I’m at an age where I should get checked out.
“It may well have been something I wouldn’t have done unless I heard they were doing free sessions. It was immediately accessible and I only had to ring to book an appointment.
“It seems I’m okay, but I need to lose a little bit of weight.”
Mr Dunn was so impressed, he asked the health improvement practitioners to offer the checks to his staff at the company, which makes travel passes for senior citizens.
He said: “For a lot of them, it will have a positive benefit on their lives.
“A number of people have taken it on board.”
One in six of all deaths before the age of 75 in Hull is caused by coronary heart disease.
Since the healthy heart checks were launched in April, the team has tested about 1,000 people.
Some 400 of those tested were deemed to be at medium or high risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years and many have been referred to their GP.
People can also be referred to other services for information on how to make lifestyle changes which will ultimately reduce the risk.
Health improvement practitioner Tony Barenskie said: “It’s to make people more aware of health issues, especially in today’s climate.
“They are able to make changes to their lifestyle to stave off health issues.
“We are looking more at prevention rather than cure.”
Amy Stephenson, who leads the health trainer team at NHS Hull, said: “This test can be performed privately, but there is a cost involved in that.
“The fact that this is a free service is great.
“The added bonus is it is a preventative service, so it can assess people at a point where they are able to make changes so they are not affected by heart disease or stroke.”
Other services that some people believe they may have to pay for are also offered free of charge.
The chlamydia awareness screening programme for Hull and the East Riding (CASPHER) offers free testing for chlamydia, as well as free condoms to protect against infection.
The Hull and East Riding Stop Smoking Service offers free nicotine replacement therapy to those using the service in a bid to quit the habit.
And NHS Hull offers free diabetes screening as it is believed many people are living with the condition but have not yet been diagnosed.
Free bowel cancer screening is open to men and women aged 60 to 75 every two years, and help with prescription costs is also available.
Links
NHS Hull
Hull Healthy Hearts
As part of the Mail’s Bounce Back campaign, which is aiming to help the region out of the recession, we are highlighting how people can look after their health without the worry of cost.
IT is a simple 20-minute test which can determine a person’s risk of suffering from various health problems over the next 10 years.
Aimed at city residents aged 40 to 64, free healthy heart checks are being offered by NHS Hull, the city’s primary care trust (PCT).
They are designed to act as a quick health “MOT” to determine the risk of developing problems such as heart disease or stroke.
As part of the Mail’s Bounce Back campaign, which is aiming to help the region out of the recession, we are highlighting how people can look after their health without the worry of cost.
The healthy heart checks analyse lifestyle factors, such as smoking, diet and levels of physical activity, which determine the risk, as well as clinical measurements such as blood pressure, cholesterol level and weight and measurement checks.
The Hull Healthy Hearts team travels to various community venues and workplaces across the city to carry out the checks on a regular basis.
Terry Dunn, 56, of Hull city centre, is the managing director of ESP Systex in Holderness Road, east Hull, and is among those who have undergone a healthy heart check.
He said: “I booked myself in because I’m at an age where I should get checked out.
“It may well have been something I wouldn’t have done unless I heard they were doing free sessions.
“It was immediately accessible and I only had to ring to book an appointment.
“It seems I’m okay, but I need to lose a little bit of weight.”
Mr Dunn was so impressed, he asked the health improvement practitioners to offer the checks to his staff at the company, which makes travel passes for senior citizens.
He said: “For a lot of them, it will have a positive benefit on their lives.
“A number of people have taken it on board.”
One in six of all deaths before the age of 75 in Hull is caused by coronary heart disease.
Since the healthy heart checks were launched in April, the team has tested about 1,000 people.
Some 400 of those tested were deemed to be at medium or high risk or developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years and many have been referred to their GP.
People can also be referred to other services for information on how to make lifestyle changes which will ultimately reduce the risk.
Health improvement practitioner Tony Barenskie said: “It’s to make people more aware of health issues, especially in today’s climate.
“They are able to make changes to their lifestyle to stave off health issues.
“We are looking more at prevention rather than cure.”
Amy Stephenson, who leads the health trainer team at NHS Hull, said: “This test can be performed privately but there is a cost involved in that.
“The fact that this is a free service is great.
“The added bonus is that it is a preventative service, so it can assess people at a point where they are able to make changes so they are not affected by heart disease or stroke.”
Other services which some people believe they may have to pay for are also offered free of charge.
The chlamydia awareness screening programme for Hull and the East Riding (CASPHER) offers free testing for chlamydia, as well as free condoms to protect against infection.
The Hull and East Riding Stop Smoking Service offers free nicotine replacement therapy to those using the service in a bid to quit the habit.
And NHS Hull offers free diabetes screening as it is believed many people are living with the condition but have not yet been diagnosed.
Free bowel cancer screening is open to men and women aged 60 to 75 every two years, and help with prescription costs is also available.
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