Staff from Frome Medical Practice have recently worked alongside colleagues at Frome Town Council to offer workplace NHS Health Checks, as part of a drive to increase the number of people taking up the free checks, potentially saving lives. 

The practice team offered two successful clinics at the Town Hall, which also provided an opportunity to promote several apps that are on offer to patients, including the NHS App, the Thymia mental wellness app and the lumin&us family wellbeing app. 

Steven James, Digital Health Connector at Frome Medical Practice, was involved in organising the sessions at Frome Town Council.

"We are enormously grateful to the team at the council, as the first organisation we've visited to deliver workplace NHS Health Checks," he said.

"Their support in arranging and promoting the sessions, and for welcoming us so warmly, means these initial clinics were a huge success and we are now looking forward to visiting more local workplaces to deliver sessions like this." 

The practice is offering the workplace NHS Health Checks to other local employers whose employees meet the following criteria: 

• Aged 25 to 84 (NHS Health Checks are normally only available to people aged 40 - 74 so the workplace offer is an ideal opportunity for people under 40 to get checked) 
• Have not had a NHS Health Check in the last 5 years 
• Do not have a pre-existing condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) or a history of stroke

The team is able to visit workplaces on Tuesdays until mid April, where they can conduct checks on eligible staff, which will include a blood pressure check, and finger prick blood test to measure glucose and cholesterol levels. 

Steven added: "NHS Health Checks are designed to save lives, spotting people who are at risk of a range of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

"Many people who are eligible for the checks don't follow up their invitation for an appointment at the practice, so by offering workplace checks it is hoped it will be more convenient for people to take up the offer of having a check done."

Employer's interested in obtaining further information or hosting a clinic can contact the practice via their online form.