High street pharmacies in England will offer on-the-spot health checks as part of an initiative by the NHS in England aimed at early detection of conditions including heart disease and stroke.
The drive by NHS England to reduce the number of people suffering heart attacks and strokes involves a “rapid detection service” through which shoppers will be offered free health checks while shopping at a pharmacy.
From next month, selected chemists will begin rolling out the free service which will include cholesterol and blood pressure checks, along with testing to search for irregular heartbeats.
The country’s most senior doctor said the new approach would be a “game changer,” helping to identify risks far earlier, with advice on lifestyle overhauls as well as targeted medication.
"Heart disease and strokes dramatically cut short lives, and leave thousands of people disabled every year, so rapid detection of killer conditions through high street heart checks will be a game-changer," said NHS national medical director Professor Stephen Powis.
Pilot schemes have seen some types of strokes fall by a quarter and if successful, the programme will be broadened to every pharmacy in England by 2022.
"Reducing lifestyle risks and treating high-risk conditions such as smoking, obesity, poor diet and physical inactivity are key to preventing serious ill-health, and the NHS Long Term Plan will help people take positive action for their own well-being, while investing in life-changing services, close to home, when ill-health hits."
The plan, which will also aid GPs in work on early detection of heart disease, is part of a £4.5 billion package of extra investment in primary and community care.
