Businesses in Stoke-on-Trent are invited to hold free NHS health checks for staff in their workplaces as part of a government-funded pilot scheme.
Targeted at staff aged 25 and over working in routine and manual roles, the checks would be carried out by trained healthcare professionals on company premises. The pilot aims to cut the number of heart disease cases in the city and support local people to remain in work.
The checks, which can be scheduled until March next year, include measuring height and weight, measuring the waistline, a blood pressure test, a cholesterol test and in some cases, a blood sugar level test.
Data will only be recorded on the GP system and will not be shared with the employer or Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Public Health team, which is coordinating the scheme.
Councillor Lynn Watkins, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “I am thrilled that Stoke-on-Trent has been chosen to take part in this health initiative.
“Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major contributor to premature mortality and years of life spent living with a disability in Stoke-on-Trent. Preventing it is essential not only to help reduce deaths, but also to ensure people stay healthy at work and reduce rising economic inactivity.
“Addressing these health inequalities through the identification of CVD is a key priority for Stoke-on-Trent and by taking part in this initiative, we can prevent more cases of heart disease.
“I urge anybody who is eligible to take advantage of this initiative and get tested.”
Employers would need to allocate a small room for the health checks, provide a list of eligible employees and allow each staff member to attend a 15- to 30-minute appointment in working hours.
In Stoke-on-Trent, as of 2022, 115.8 people per 100,000 died before the age of 75 as a result of circulatory diseases, which is significantly higher than the national average of 77.8 people per 100,000.
Also, as of 2022/23,16.7 per cent of the local population in Stoke-on-Trent have been diagnosed with hypertension, which again is 2.3 per cent higher than the national average.
Businesses can register interest in the scheme by completing the online registration form.
