Thousands of eligible
Sandwell residents are being offered diagnostic NHS Health Checks to detect
any early signs of diabetes, heart and kidney disease and
hypertension.
The early
identification of individuals with the potential to develop these conditions
will enable the NHS to intervene and, in many cases, prevent the onset of
potentially life-changing and life-threatening illnesses.
In a pioneering
initiative, the Sandwell tests and online self-assessment provision will be
provided by a partnership comprising the council’s Healthy Sandwell team,
the NHS and diagnostics company Randox Health – whose tests and clinics
will be used to facilitate the innovative testing. Tests and clinics will
be available for Sandwell residents in both Sandwell and, if convenient, in
Birmingham.
The awarding of the
contract to Randox Health to provide the tests follows an open tender
process by Sandwell Council. The company has demonstrated success in
providing 17 million PCR tests to NHS Test and Trace during the Covid-19
pandemic, helping prevent thousands of hospitalisations and deaths in the
UK.
Free tests will be
offered to Sandwell residents aged between 40 and 74 who have not
previously suffered coronary heart disease, strokes, diabetes or kidney
disease. Each will, in the next few weeks, begin receiving letters inviting
them to the 20-minute NHS check, with branding from Randox, Healthy Sandwell
and the NHS. The letter will include a link to the Randox website through
which the tests can be booked.
Sandwell residents who
have not yet received a GP letter and believe they are eligible can visit
the Randox website https://nhshealthcheck.randox.com, take an eligibility check and then book their
own appointment.
Tests will be carried
out by specially trained staff at a number of community pop-up clinics in
locations in Sandwell such as leisure centres and community spaces, aiming
to reach those most at risk of having an undiagnosed serious illness.
Tests for Sandwell
residents will also be available at Randox Health’s Birmingham Clinic
(39-40 High Street, B4 7SL).
Test results will be
made available to GPs for inclusion on patient medical records through
Health Diagnostics Ltd, a third-party provider. Randox will hold none of
the data from the test results.
Not only will the
testing programme enable prevention and mitigation through the early
identification of serious illness, it will also allow lifestyle
modification on issues including smoking, alcohol and weight
management.
Councillor Suzanne
Hartwell, Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults, Social Care & Health,
said: “The good health of our residents has always been a priority for the
Council. This initiative will have a significant and beneficial impact on
the health and longevity of thousands of people living in the area. It will
enable those at high risk to take medical and lifestyle steps to prevent
illnesses which could, if not detected early, shorten or change lives.”
David Ferguson, Chief
Operating Officer for Randox Health said: “Randox is delighted to be part
of this joint initiative with Sandwell Council’s Public Health Team. It has
long been our belief that early diagnostic health testing delivers better
outcomes for individuals. It relieves the pressure on our NHS by enabling
lifestyle change and medical intervention. This, in turn, prevents or
mitigates illnesses which would otherwise require intense long-term
treatment.”
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