Boots starts offering free 15-minute ‘health MOTs’ for over-40s in bid to reduce pressure on the NHS
Over-40s in England can get a free ‘health APK’ after research showed that around three in four in the UK want to feel healthier.
The Boots check-up of 15 minutes can be booked from today in 1,000 stores in England.
It includes the NHS blood pressure monitoring service alongside an optional Body-Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference measurement and personalized lifestyle advice.
Boots officials said the scheme could help ease pressure on the NHS by providing accessible care in pharmacies and helping Britons live healthier lives.
It is hoped that the campaign, which will run until June, will help put Brits suffering from the ‘silent killer’ high blood pressure on the road to treatment.
The free 15-minute Boots check can be booked in 1,000 stores across England, in a move the chain claims will help ease pressure on the NHS
The MOT includes a blood pressure check and some optional tests to check if a person is overweight
High blood pressure is a serious health problem and contributes to life-threatening emergencies such as heart disease and stroke.
But symptoms of the condition are hard to spot in everyday life, earning it the nickname “silent killer.
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It is estimated that just over 200 Britons are killed each day, with the daily toll in the US rising to nearly 1,370.
But it is thought that between six and eight million Britons are living with undiagnosed, and therefore uncontrolled, high blood pressure.
Once diagnosed, people may be encouraged to make lifestyle changes such as eating less salt and exercising more to control their high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
GPs can also prescribe people medicines to control their blood pressure.
The Boots APK, which will be with a pharmacist, includes:
- The NHS blood pressure monitoring service, with GP referral if required
- Optional BMI and waist circumference measurement
- Lifestyle guidance in the field of exercise, nutrition, sleep, mental well-being and smoking cessation
At the end of the appointment, patients receive a booklet with information about how to live a healthy life and a section with the results of their MOT.
The idea behind the free APK was born from research commissioned by Boots that showed that 68 percent of people want to feel healthier, rising to 73 percent among those over 40.
Superintendent Pharmacist at Boots, Claire Nevinson said: ‘The Free Health APK at Boots aims to help people better understand their health and take the steps they need to improve it.
‘As we age, we become more vulnerable to conditions such as high blood pressure, so it’s important we take steps to stay healthy.
‘The checks during the MOT and the advice provided not only help individual patients to live healthier lives, but also reduce the pressure on the NHS by offering accessible care in pharmacies that are at the heart of society.’
Such APKs are not a new concept as NHS England introduced their version in 2009.
However, such campaigns have not been without criticism.
A 2015 report from the London School of Economics and the University of Liverpool accused the checks of being ‘ineffective’ and wasting £450 million ($547 million) a year.
This NHS check was also offered to the over 40s, but unlike the Boots version, they stopped at age 74.
Patients registered with a primary care physician are invited for a 30-minute appointment every five years to monitor their risk for conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
The NHS Health MOT Program offers:
- A conversation about your lifestyle and family history
- Measure your height and weight
- Blood pressure control
- Blood tests
- Personal lifestyle guidance
Despite a survey of more than 450,000 people finding that those who attended the MOT were slimmer, less likely to smoke and had lower blood pressure years later, a 2014 review found that illnesses caught during the checkups were “just as good could be detected’ through standard care.
People over 75 in England receive a specific regular routine check-up with their GP.
These cover a variety of health issues, from checking blood pressure to early signs of dementia, although many older people also use the appointment as an opportunity to ask a healthcare provider about any health issues they may have.