Health and care services in Brighton and Hove want more people over the age of 40 to take advantage of free health checks that can help you stay healthier for longer.
The city’s NHS Health Check programme checks you out for signs of heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease.
The health checks are free. They take about 20 minutes and can be booked through your local GP. They are commissioned by Brighton and Hove City Council’s public health team and delivered by local surgeries.
Albion in the Community chief executive Michael Edwards had his NHS Health Check done recently. He says: “I never leave it more than a year to get my car serviced. So why would I do any different with my health?”
The council’s director of public health, Dr Tom Scanlon, said: “The NHS health check programme was set up to help identify people at increased risk of health conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
“Diabetes is still increasing year on year and heart disease remains our number one cause of death.
“One of the concerns I have had is that some of the people most likely to benefit from a health check might be least likely to come forward.
“That is why we have organised the health checks programme locally to help GP practices identify the people at the highest risk.
“The checks are particularly important for smokers, people who are overweight and people haven’t visited their GP in the last couple of years.
“I would encourage all people over aged between 40 and 75 years to phone up their doctor’s surgery and make a health check appointment.
“It is easy, free and could make all the difference.”
