Blackburn with Darwen chosen for workplace heart checks programme

Blackburn with Darwen has been chosen to take part in a groundbreaking workplace heart health check programme.

The borough’s health and wellbeing team plans to undertake 1,000 cardiovascular disease testing programme at larger employers by March next year.

The scheme is part of a £10million national NHS Health Checks programme at workplaces.

It is the first time the government has brought together local authorities and employers to deliver such a diagnostic testing regime,

Blackburn with Darwen is part of the first pilot programme.

The borough has been chosen as part of the Workplace Cardiovascular Disease Health Check Pilot which will allow the council’s health and wellbeing team to offer comprehensive heart health checks.

They aim to can detect people at higher risk of a range of diseases and help them to access effective treatment or take preventative action.

Running until March 2025, 1,000 health checks are planned in large workplaces across the borough paid for bythe Government’s £10m. Shared Outcome Fund.

Cllr Damian Talbot, the council’s public health boss, said: “I’m really pleased that Blackburn with Darwen has been chosen as one of the pilot areas for these health checks.

“This simple health check can help identify issues and can prevent people becoming seriously ill, and carrying them out in the workplace means it’s an easy and convenient way to get checked out.

“I hope large workplaces across the borough will sign up for this – we are aiming to be the healthiest and happiest borough we can be and this is a fantastic place to start.”

Every year, the NHS Health Check programme engages over 1.3 million people in England and prevents an estimated 300 premature deaths.

The proposed Blackburn with Darwen tests are effective at preventing cardiovascular disease and aim to remove barriers to help more people access the programme and understand of the importance of having a heart health check.

By delivering them in workplaces, council health bosses hope to reach people who are at higher risk and are less likely take up the offer of a check, such as men and younger adults.

To be eligible for the programme people need to aged between 25 and 74 years and haven’t had an NHS Health Check in the last five years

If any issues are discovered during these checks, the team will be able to advise individuals on the next steps, from making lifestyle changes such as getting more active and eating healthily, to seeing their GP for further check ups.