Boots start offering free 15-minute ‘MOTs’ to over-40s in a bid to reduce pressure on the NHS
Over 40s in England can book a free ‘medical check up’ at Boots.
The 15-minute medical check, which is being offered in 1,000 stores in England from today, will check your blood pressure.
Anyone with a high reading – which means they are at higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke – will be referred to their GP.
BMI and waist circumference measurements can also be taken if clients wish to do so.
They will then get personalized advice and recommendations on how to live a healthier lifestyle through exercise and diet.
A free 15-minute Boots check can be booked at 1,000 stores in England in a move the chain claims will help reduce pressure on the NHS.
A healthy MOT will include a blood pressure check and some optional tests to check if a person is overweight
Potts said the scheme could help reduce pressure on the NHS, which is grappling with record backlogs and unprecedented demand.
The goal of the Free Health MOT at Boots is to help people gain insight into their health and take the steps they need to take to improve it, said Claire Nevinson, Boots’ supervising pharmacist.
As we get older, we become more susceptible to conditions such as high blood pressure, so it is important that we take steps to help maintain our health.
“The checks carried out during the MOT and the advice given not only help individual patients live healthier lives but also reduce pressure on the NHS by providing more accessible care in pharmacies in the heart of communities.”
It is hoped that the campaign, which will run until June, will help those suffering from high blood pressure get treatment early.
Symptoms of the condition are difficult to spot in everyday life, which is why it is often referred to as the “silent killer.”
It is estimated that high blood pressure kills just over 200 Britons every day, with the daily death toll rising to nearly 1,370 in the US.
But it is believed that between six and eight million Britons suffer from undiagnosed, and therefore uncontrolled, high blood pressure.
Once people are diagnosed, they can then be encouraged to make lifestyle changes such as cutting back on salt and doing more exercise to control high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
GPs can also prescribe medications for people to help manage their blood pressure.
The Boots health MOT, which will be with a pharmacist, includes:
- NHS blood pressure checking service, with a GP referral if required
- Optional measurement of BMI and waist circumference
- Lifestyle guidance on exercise, nutrition, sleep, mental health, and how to quit smoking
At the end of their appointment, patients will receive a booklet with information on how to live a healthy lifestyle and a section with their recorded MOT results.
The idea behind the free MOT test was sparked by research, commissioned by Boots, that suggested that 68% of people would like to feel healthier, with that percentage increasing to 73% for those over their 40s.
MOTs are not a new concept, and NHS England introduced its own version in 2009.
However, such campaigns did not pass without criticism.
The checks were accused of being ‘inefficient’ and wasting £450m ($547m) a year in a 2015 report by the London School of Economics and the University of Liverpool.
The NHS check was also introduced for the over 40s, but unlike the Boots version they cut the age off at 74.
Patients registered with a general practitioner are invited to attend 30-minute appointments every five years to monitor their risk of developing diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
The NHS health MOT program offers:
- Chat about your lifestyle and family history
- Measure your height and weight
- Check blood pressure
- Blood tests
- Personal lifestyle guidelines
Although a study of more than 450,000 people found that those who attended MOT sessions were thinner, less likely to smoke, and had lower blood pressure years later, a 2014 review found that diseases spotted during checkups could be “detected equally well.” ”Through standard care.”
Over 75s in England have a regular routine check-up with their GP.
These cover a variety of health issues, from checking blood pressure to early signs of dementia, although many seniors also take the appointment as an opportunity to ask a health professional about any health concerns they have.