The move comes after Kent County Council (KCC) successfully applied for a £195,000 government grant to locally roll out a national scheme that will take CVD checks direct to employees most at risk.
CVD, the general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels, is the leading cause of death and disability in England – but 80% is preventable.
Now the £7million Workplace Cardiovascular Disease Health Check Pilot will take place in 48 local authority areas across England, including Kent, between September (2024) and March (2025).
Businesses large and small across a range of industries including building, transport, hospitality and social care sectors, will be involved.
Overall, it is hoped the initiative will enable more than 130,000 people, including 3,800 in Kent, to get convenient checks for a range of conditions including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, and some cases of dementia.
Staff taking part will:
- have a blood pressure check
- have their height, weight, and waist measured
- discuss lifestyle routines, such as exercise, alcohol and smoking, which can affect the chances of getting serious diseases like CVD
If needed, participants will be helped to get treatment, or take preventative action, to reduce the risk of ill health in the future.
The pilot follows findings that people having CVD events are getting younger. Around 1 in 3 people who have a heart attack, and 1 in 4 strokes, are in people of working age. A third of stroke survivors currently never return to work.
And while over 16 million people are eligible for a NHS Health Check every five years, latest data shows only 40% of those offered a check had one – though checks prevent premature deaths through early diagnosis.
“CVD accounted for almost 1 in 4 deaths in England across all ages in 2022 and each year in Kent it claims around 1000 lives of people under the age of 75 - yet 4 out of 5 cases are preventable”
KCC Director of Public Health, Dr Anjan Ghosh, said: “When it comes to our health, prevention is always better than cure so we’re very excited about this pilot scheme coming to Kent and working further with local businesses to reach people eligible for a NHS Health Check – but less likely to take it up.
"This is especially true for men, who are less likely to get early help but who are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease at an earlier age than women.
“CVD accounted for almost 1 in 4 deaths in England across all ages in 2022 and each year in Kent it claims around 1000 lives of people under the age of 75 – yet 4 out of 5 cases are preventable.
“By identifying factors like high blood pressure that increase the risk of cardiovascular problems we will help our residents live well for longer, reduce the need for sick days and ease the strain on our NHS.”
Did you know you don’t need to wait for a CVD health check at work to know your blood pressure numbers and potentially save your life?
- GET your blood pressure checked. Find out where in Kent and Medway: www.kentandmedway.icb.nhs.uk/your-health/local-services/free-blood-pressure-checks
- ACCEPT an invite for a free NHS Health Check if you receive one. The check takes around 30 minutes and you’ll be given advice on how you can achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle
- If you’re not eligible for a full NHS Health Check, BOOK a health MOT instead. Learn more at www.kentcht.nhs.uk/service/one-you-kent/nhs-health-checks
