Reaching out to local communities in the South West

Increasing uptake of NHS Health Check services is a challenge in the South West, but local authorities are responding with innovative work.

In Bristol the local authority wants to prioritise resources where the need is greatest. One successful outreach was to the Sikh community. A local GP surgery team visited the Fishponds Gurudwara during a Sunday service when Dilawer Singh, a local NHS Health Check champion, invited people to have a check. Such events will continue to roll out in the city, targeting 40 to 74 year olds in communities at risk.

In Bath, NHS Health Check services were delivered in a local print business by a neighbouring GP surgery. The number of employees who took up the offer was 73, mainly male. Over half had a BMI over 25, 22% had raised blood pressure and 5% had CVD risk of 20%. A three-month follow up indicated that 63% had ‘learnt something new’ and 69% had changed their behaviour. Stated motivation for having a NHS Health Check was ‘to reassure myself about my health’ (62%) and ‘more convenient than going to my GP’ (50%).

In Swindon the local public health team has used MOSAIC to gain an insight into where it should target initiatives. It looked at MOSAIC types who would be eligible for a NHS Health Check, at high risk of CVD but would not normally access services. Three types emerged:

• self-supporters
• low income workers
• high-rise tenants

Swindon is now promoting NHS Health Check services to housing providers and offering checks at council-owned high-rise blocks. It also intends to target local job agencies.

For more information contact Rosanne Sodzi, public health support manager, PHE South West rosanne.sodzi@phe.gov.uk