Services Database Pharmacy NHS Health Checks (BANES Area)

The NHS Health Check is a risk assessment and prevention programme that identifies people at risk of developing heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease or certain types of dementia, and helps them take action to avoid, reduce or manage their symptoms of these health problems.

Aims of the service:

• to help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease;
• to raise awareness of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including lifestyle factors, and support people to avoid, reduce or manage those risks;
• to reduce levels of alcohol related harm, and to raise awareness of the signs of dementia and where people can go for help; and
• to reduce health inequalities by targeting ‘hard to reach groups’ as a priority.

Pharmacies and Outreach providers will also offer a walk-in service (opportunistic) for people who have received an invitation letter via the GP and those people resident in B&NES but not registered with a GP.

The service provider will encourage people who are not registered with a local practitioner to do so.

The provider must be able to demonstrate that all staff delivering the NHS Health Checks programme are competent in the following areas:

• knowledge of the national and local NHS Health Checks programme;
• vascular disease risk assessment including the use of risk assessment tool (QRISK2);
• risk communication;
• the use of point of care testing;
• lifestyle management advice and onward referral; and
• appropriate referral for clinical assessment and management.

Where necessary the Council will provide additional training to support staff in delivery but the provider is responsible to ensure staff are fully competent.