The ‘Healthy Heart Check' uses PocDoc's app-based technology to offer patients a comprehensive cholesterol profile, body mass index score, heart age estimate, and a 10-year risk assessment for having a heart attack or stroke. The new technology means patients can have the results of their screening within minutes and start making healthy changes straight away.
Patients will also be offered resources to help them understand their results and lifestyle advice on how to improve their heart health.
In West Yorkshire, almost 6% of the adult population has CVD, and more than 115,000 people are at high risk of developing a heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years according to their QRISK score.
The first screenings will be delivered at Get Set Goal at the University of Huddersfield, Healthy Heart Community Hubs in Wakefield, and Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Pathfinder pilot sites.
Screenings will be offered to those in attendance at these sites who are identified as being at high risk of CVD and meet the eligibility criteria.
Emily Turner, CVD clinical lead at West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, said: ‘By focusing on prevention, we can tackle this disease, but we must reach those most at risk. One of the main ways of doing this is improving access to digital solutions that are easy to use and convenient.
‘This smartphone-based technology helps patients detect potential problems faster and earlier and is an excellent example of our commitment to using technology to improve patient outcomes and address health inequality in our community.'
Steve Roest, chief executive at PocDoc, added: ‘CVD presents a major threat to the health of millions of people, and many incidences can be prevented by earlier diagnosis. Yet many of those at risk don't test early enough and suffer down the line as a result.
‘This partnership underscores West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership's commitment to closing this gap - ensuring that many of those who might previously have been unwilling or unable to access preventative testing can do so within their own communities, through using our Health Heart Check.'
