Health checks and the workplace
Introduction
Ever since the Healthy Workplace Award began we have had lots of interest in how people can assess their own health and wellbeing. Some employers have offered assessments, either through their occupational health service or by brining in professionals to offer free sessions to staff.
We know that measuring our health status can be a real spark for understanding risk and making positive changes to live healthier lives, often through a series of small steps. However, it is important that any tests are not taken in isolation as people need to have the right information, advice and potentially a referral to other services depending on their result.
The NHS Health Check was first tested in 2010 and since 2013 a programme has been in place to offer a free NHS Health Check to all eligible people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (people aged 40-74) by April 2018 Most people will be invited to attend an NHS Health Check by their GP surgery (with roughly a fifth of eligible patients being invited in any one year). If you receive an invite please take up the opportunity to receive this free and friendly check and advice. It will either give you some welcome reassurance or importantly make sure you are informed about how you can reduce your risk or what treatment you many need.
Alongside the usual GP appointments we are also promoting some informal opportunities for people to access a Health Check. This is because it has been shown that some groups in our local population are less likely to access GP surgeries or may not have the time, confidence or support to attend this type of appointment.
So we will be offering NHS Health Checks in some local businesses or at business-based events but this will be with the aim of reducing inequalities in access to the check. We use a range of measures to assess where we may want to offer extra opportunities to access an NHS Health Check. Broadly, these are:
§ Companies with a high proportion of male employees (because men are less likely to go to the Doctor than women)
§ Companies in areas of greater deprivation (based on national indicators set out under the Index of Multiple Deprivation)
§ Companies or business events in places where health indicators show a higher risk to heart health and good circulation (for example, a higher than average rate of heart attacks)
This briefing is intended to set out what NHS Health Checks are, how they work and where the opportunities are for employees to access a check or if more appropriate using another tool to assess their health and plan for positive life changes.
Please note we have developed this resource with the input of a small group of employers, and tested this series of questions and answers, but if you have any other questions or suggestions about how we can promote NHS Health Checks and other means of health assessment please contact us on
§ What is an NHS Health Check?
The NHS Health Check isasophisticated check of yourheart health. Aimedat adults in England aged 40 to 74,itchecks yourvascular or circulatoryhealth andworks out your risk of developing some of the most disabling– but preventable– illnesses.
Think of your NHS Health Check as beingyour"midlife MOT". It checks that some of your body's most important systems are all running smoothly. Among other things, your blood pressure, cholesterol, and BMI will all be checked and your resultsgiven to you.
Crucially, your NHS Health Check can detect potential problems before they do real damage. Everyone is at risk of developing heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and some forms of dementia. The good news is that these conditions can often be prevented even if you have a history of these in your family..
Your NHS Health Check will assess your risk of developing these health problems andgive you personalised advice on how to reduce it. Small changes can often make a big difference in reducing your risk of developing ill health in the future.
It'sfree of charge, including any follow-up tests or appointments.
§ What does it involve?
At the check, you'll be asked some questions about your lifestyle and family medical history. You'll also have some routine tests which include Blood Pressure and checking your cholesterol . From these, your healthcare professional will be able to give you an idea of your risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and type 2 diabetes. As well as a breakdown of your results, you'll get an overall score giving your risk of getting heart disease or stroke. If you're over 65,you will also be told the signs and symptoms of dementia, and you'll be made aware of memory services nearby.
After your results have been explained, you’ll be offered personalised advice and support to help stay healthy, and lower your risk if any of your results need improving. This advice could include suggestions on small changes to your diet or how much exercise you should take if your risk is low or moderate.
If you are at higher risk, your healthcare professional will discuss follow-up and referral to your GP to discuss if you should be taking medication and discuss any further help to take action such as losing weight, becoming more activeor stopping smoking.
By having a routine NHS Health Check for these conditions every five years, you can take action early and greatly improve your chance of a longer, healthier andhappier life. You may be surprised how some small, long-lasting changes to your lifestyle can make a huge difference.
§ Who can have a test?
You'll be invited for an NHS Health Check every five years if you are between 40 and 74 years old, as long as you don't have an existing vascular condition.
You'll usually getyour NHS Health Check at aGP practice or local pharmacy, but it could happen at other convenient places in your neighbourhood, depending on where you live.Find out more about ways to get the NHS Health Check.
Even if you don't qualify yet for an NHS Health Check, there are plenty of other ways to build up a picture of your health.
Start by taking the online heart age test now to see how healthy your heart is.
§ How does the NHS Health Check benefit you?
Once you've had your NHS Health Check, you'll have agood idea of whatyour risk is of developing heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and certain types of dementia. There are some risk factors for these diseases that can't be changed; for example, your risk increases with age. But there's a lot you can do to reduce your risk. You can:
· maintain a healthy weight
· be physically active
· eat a healthy and balanced diet
· stop smoking
· cut down on alcohol
Your NHS Health Checkwill give you information and support to help you reach your health goals and enjoy a better quality of life.By acting to reduce your risk, you'll havemore chance ofdodging the debilitating and potentially disabling effects of illnesses such as type 2 diabetes and stroke.
§ What if I’m not eligible and want to know more about my health?
The NHS Health Check programme is aimed at people aged 40 to 74. If you are not old enough for an NHS Health Check, youwill soon be able todo a free pre-check online(currently in development).If you are especially worried about your health, you can always book an appointment with your GP and they may give you an early NHSHealth Check if they think it is necessary.
The NHS Choices article How do I get one? also gives alternative ways of getting the tests available in the NHS Health Check.
If you have urgent concerns about your health, call NHS 111 for advice.
Younger people generally have a much lower risk of the conditions the NHS Health Check covers, so checking people in this group would not be such an effective way for the NHS to spend its resources.
It is recommended, however, that all adults are aware of their blood pressure and other key measures such as their BMI.Ask your GP or a pharmacist for advice on getting this information if you don’t already have it.
Here are some of the positive steps you can take to finding out more about your current health and how to improve it.
· check your BMI with our BMI calculator
· boost your activity levels with our free Couch to 5K running programme
· If you're over 30, take the online heart age test to see what your risk of getting heart disease or stroke is.
· Find out if you're at risk oftype-2 diabetes with this quick and simple test.
· Find out if you're at risk of kidney disease with this quick and simple test.
· This BMI calculator can show you whether you're a healthy weight for your height, and if you're overweight, what your daily calorie range should be so you can lose weight.
· Try this healthy eating self-assessment to see if your diet's on track.
· Could you be drinking too much? Check your alcohol intake with this drinking self-assessment.
§ What about other checks or other age groups? Is it fair if only 40-74 year olds can get a check?
Some workplaces have offered other assessments of health and wellbeing to staff to help them get a better understanding of risks and ways to make improvements.
Our advice is for employers to use the national guidance and evidence behind the development of the NHS Health Check programme, which confirms why the national test is being offered in the way it is and the reasons behind a 40-74 years old focus. This is also about using the clinical evidence to decide where to best to focus resources to gain the most health benefit. This is the same approach that is used for routine immunisations or screening of babies and young children to protect their health and wellbeing.
Any immediate concerns should always be raised with your GP or practice nurse.
There are lots of other ways to promote good health and wellbeing among younger employees, including using some of the online tests around areas like heart health, BMI and alcohol use. People can also reuse these tests to measure the impact of any changes they have made and see if they have reduced their risk. This can be a good way of motivating people to build on small successful steps and find new areas to focus on as well as maintaining the progress they have made.
§ Where can I find out more?
More comprehensive answers and other information on how to improve your health and wellbeing can be found on the NHS Choices website.
NHS Health Check questions and answers: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/nhs-health-check/Pages/nhs-health-check-questions-faq.aspx
Make a plan for changes you want to make: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/nhs-health-check/Pages/Take-action-to-improve-your-health.aspx