Free health checks for staff at the NNUH

NHS Norfolk and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are working together to offer all eligible staff at the hospital a free NHS Health Check.

NHS Health Checks is a national programme for people aged between 40 and 74 years old. Each check looks for early warnings of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease, and is free to most people not already suffering from one of these conditions.

It involves recording basic information, such as height, weight, blood pressure, a simple blood test for cholesterol and, in some cases, glucose.

Afterwards, each participant is likely to be offered advice on how they can improve their health and reduce their risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, by making changes to their lifestyle.

The health checks for hospital staff have been funded by NHS Norfolk, and will take place from December 3.

Rachel Hunt, Business Manager, Workplace Health and Wellbeing at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted to have received funding for the health checks. We recognise the value of these checks so we are making them available to all employees. Keeping our staff healthy will ensure we can continue to provide high quality care to patients.

“We are keen to show the importance of individuals looking after their own health via the workplace, and health checks play an important part in that. They make employees aware of any potential health problems later in life, so preventative action can be taken now.”

Norfolk's GP surgeries began offering the checks in October 2009, and more than 16,000 people have had them so far.

If your GP surgery is taking part in the programme you may either be sent an invitation to attend or offered a health check at the practice while you are there for other reasons.

NHS Norfolk is aiming to offer a check to everyone who is eligible, in a rolling programme over five years. In the NHS Norfolk area the target population numbers 200,000 people.

Lucy Macleod, a Consultant in Public Health at NHS Norfolk, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to offer NHS Health Checks to their staff.

“We have agreed to fund the checks as we believe this will be beneficial to the staff and, ultimately, their patients.

“Our message to everyone is that if you are eligible for a health check – and have an opportunity for one – please take it up. The check will assess your risk of developing various conditions which can cause health problems later in life.

“Often, only small changes are needed to your lifestyle, such as eating a healthier diet, losing a bit of weight, taking more exercise or stopping smoking. You will be offered specially tailor-made advice to reduce or manage that risk.”

Patients undergoing a check will also be given leaflets produced by Active Norfolk, advising them how to become more active.

To find out more about the programme visit www.norfolk.nhs.uk and click through to NHS Choices for further information. There are also links to Change4Life, the government's national campaign to encourage everyone to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Smokefree Norfolk, which is managed by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust and commissioned by NHS Norfolk, provides free, confidential advice and support to help you give up smoking.

Telephone 0800 0854 113 or visit: http://www.smokefreenorfolk.nhs.uk