NHS...Touting for business...why?

[d9f1c7]

I've just had a call from my local Health Centre, asking me if I'd like to take advantage of their free NHS health check! Now I always thought the NHS where up to their necks in "customers" and really wouldn't be needing to rustle up new business so what's all this about? As regular readers will be aware, I am a big fan of the NHS so this is not me having a go, more of a curious observation.

[riptide]

Well I do not have a great deal of confidence in mammograms. I had stage 3 breast cancer 10 years ago, they were sure I had it but the mammogram was not really showing the tumour. They decided to operate and take away the thickening around my breast. Waited a month, during which time, a tumour had grown through my breast. Decided to have the whole breast removed, rather than part as they had suggested. Just as well really as there was cancer in another part of the breast that had not been detected. Always go on your own instinct it never lets you down.

[youngmafbog]

No one has called me. You must live in an affluent area D9 or perhaps it is one of those 5 a day co ordinators with no real work to do.

[Sqad]

Ratter/carakeel............I feel that we are talking at cross purposes here....the thread is about "Well People Clinics".........people who are symptom free. of course routine checks are required following the treatment of certain medical conditions.
My point, which many people will disagree with, is that routine checks on "well people" may not be good value for the money and not save or prolong any lives.

[shaneystar2]

I supose these routine checks do give people peace of mind .
But they are not fail safe by any means .
A friend of mine didn't keep her mammograms up ( they don't recall you after a certain age but you can still have them if you make the arrangements ) and then suddenly she was gone .Rapid breast cancer .
As for the poo sticks my husband got the all clear on his last one and six months later was in hospital having major surgery to remove part of his colon and his anus .

[boxtops]

This is what it's all about - it's an initiative which has been introduced after the last few months. http://www.nhs.uk/Pla...s/NHSHealthCheck.aspx

[Sqad]

Boxy...thanks....they are just basic tests.....but couldn't a patient ask for these BEFORE this edict?

Then of course how frequent will these tests be done?

[Sqad]

OH! and boxy....would the GP get paid EXTRA for each patient checked?

[emmie]

i couldn't get an appointment then hey presto a letter appeared asking me if i wanted one of these health checks, perhaps squad is right, a bit of a con, racking up more dosh for the practice.

[slaney]

Boxtops has given a useful link.
This is a vascular risk assessment (now including heart disease, stroke , diabetes and kidney disease) which was first announced by Alan Johnson in 2008, and I presume is centrally funded, and has now got to the stage of being rolled out through the NHS.
It is run by nurses, pretty low-tech and takes only about 20 mts.
Tests include BMI, blood pressure, and blood tests - cholesterol, blood sugar and renal function.
There is a questionnaire about exercise, alcohol consumption, and smoking.
You then get the results with advice.

These diseases are very common and worth screening for - very few of us will get to our 70s without having a few risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
I will be happy to go along for my health check (when the appointment arrives) as it has a good evidence base.
http://www.healthchec...uidanceDocuments.aspx

[boxtops]

Very largely in our local surgeries, the Health Checks are carried out by trained healthcare assistants - it's not taking up GP or nursing hours. The PCTs have funded trainign for the HCAs to enable them to do this. Prevention is better than cure in today's NHS, and a great deal less expensive.

Re earlier comments, I've just done my second set of Poo on the Windows, and had an all clear letter - next one due in 2014 now.

[Sqad]

slaney/boxtop

///It is run by nurses, pretty low-tech and takes only about 20 mts.
Tests include BMI, blood pressure, and blood tests - cholesterol, blood sugar and renal function. ////

I am not too sure of the value of BMI and renal function, but surely these tests have always been available. You mention "extra funding" so I presume that this will depend on the number of patients a practice "draws in."

\\\\There is a questionnaire about exercise, alcohol consumption, and smoking.
You then get the results with advice. \\\

Please dont tell me that the population do not know the benefits or risks associated with exercise, alcohol consumption and smoking....without being re-told by a health care professional.

Is this a one off, or a recurrent theme and if recurrent, how often?

I really have difficulty in seeing the value and I would love to know how much it costs to the NHS.

Yes, prevention is better than cure, but i am not at all convinced of the efficacy of this scheme, particularly in a time of financial constraint in the NHS.

[slaney]

Yes Sqad these tests have always been available, but only a small proportion of people have them done.
Even if the benefits of these health checks are modest, I wouldn't like to discourage people from attending. Actually it would be good to have feedback from anyone attending as to whether they thought they were useful.

In the future, with £20 billion pounds of cuts - sorry - efficiency savings - to be made over four years, GPs' priorities may indeed change.

[rov1100]

What's the use of an MOT if the repair facilities are sadly lacking.

[Sqad]

slaney

///to be made over four years, GPs' priorities may indeed change.//

I doubt it.....the British GP is a unique institution and he/she/it will alwyas be a propriety.

boxy

/// Prevention is better than cure in today's NHS///

Apart from the "little chat" tell me ONE.....just ONE disease, that these blood tests will prevent.

This is an expensive gimmick..........in my opinion.

[slaney]

Not sure I understand your first point Sqad; to clarify, in a few years time, when GPs have control of budgets they may decide because of financial restraints not to run these clinics.

Looking at the pilot studies, about 30% of people were found to have high cholesterol, 8-10% high blood pressure, and 4% to have diabetes. These would have been referred on to their GP and given appropriate treatment/advice. A few were even referred to an Acute Chest Pain clinic at the local hospital.
The aim is to prevent heart disease, stroke, and to prevent the complications of diabetes.
So a bit more than just a "little chat"

[Sqad]

slaney

You will have to excuse my mistakes as i tend to knock off a few answers in the early hours,as i feed the cats.
Propriety should have read priority.

"Pilot studies"....haven't seen them.....bu i take your word for it.

So........in 20 years time we will see the incidence of Cardio-cerebro vascular incidents reduced?

I will not be around to observe this phenomenon.

[bednobs]

sqad,the problem is that while most people do know that eating bacon butties every day and drinking 50 units of alcohol a week causes those diseases, most people think in stereotype s too. for example "well my 90 year old gran smoked every day of her adult life and is in rude health" OR they think "it wont happen to me" The health check ives you your risk of developing problems in the next x amount of time, which is a bit of a wake up call to some people -their own specific risk being given