More than 4,500 people in Wolverhampton had a free NHS Health Check last year according to new figures from Public Health England – setting themselves on the path towards improved health and wellbeing.
Available to 40 to 74-year-olds, the Health Check assesses an individual's health and identifies relatively simple lifestyle changes they could make to lower their risk of developing serious but preventable conditions such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers and dementia.
The majority of GPs in Wolverhampton provide Health Checks, as does the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust’s Healthy Lifestyles team. To book an appointment, people should speak to their GP or call the Healthy Lifestyles team on 0800 073 4242 or 01902 444246.
Councillor Sandra Samuels, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “The Health Check provides a real chance for people to take control of their own health, and it is encouraging to see so many people in Wolverhampton embarking on this.
“It is an important opportunity to identify and address undiagnosed conditions that people are living with before serious health problems develop. Very often simple lifestyle changes, such as eating more healthily or doing more exercise, can make a huge difference.
“And with 69% of adults in Wolverhampton classed as overweight or obese and 15% suffering from high blood pressure, we need to encourage everyone who is eligible to take up this important offer.”
