Homes in Sedgemoor Introduce FREE NHS Health Checks for Tenants in Supported Housing

Friday 12th March 2010

Homes in Sedgemoor have teamed up with Sedgemoor District Council and NHS Somerset, to pilot a new scheme that aims to help tenants stay healthy for longer, by bringing free NHS health checks to the doorsteps of those living in Supported Housing.

On 24 March trained staff members from Sedgemoor District Council will be attending Supported Housing Scheme’s based in Cheddar, and West Street in Bridgwater, to carry out health checks on behalf of NHS Somerset. The checks will be made available to residents living in these areas who may otherwise not have been able to travel to receive them elsewhere. This new NHS programme is a national preventative scheme that is targeting people aged between 40 and 74 years old, who are not already known to have cardiovascular health problems.

Chief Executive of Homes in Sedgemoor, Gary Orr said: ‘We are proud to be supporting such an excellent programme that can really help to improve the lives of our customers. I’m sure that the programme will be well received by residents at the schemes where it is being piloted, and if successful we plan to roll out to other areas in the near future.’

Selected tenants have been sent invites to attend one of 25 slots that will be available on the day. Each slot will provide a private 30 minute health check that will assess cardiovascular risks, and the risk of developing other health problems such as heart disease, strokes, kidney disease or diabetes.

The assessors will do this by asking simple lifestyle questions, and measuring things like height, weight, BMI and blood pressure. Pin-prick blood samples will also be taken to measure cholesterol and glucose levels of those undergoing the health checks. After the assessment is complete they will also take time to discuss with individuals the ways that any risks can be managed and advice about any other services that may be available to them.

Posted by Kim for Homes in Sedgemoor