Free Heart MOTs for Kingston residents
Kingston residents aged 40-74 are being encouraged to have a quick and easy heart health MOT at convenient locations around the borough.
Cardiovascular disease is the biggest killer in Kingston, accounting for a third (34 per cent) of all deaths in the borough annually.
To tackle this, NHS Kingston is working in partnership with UK charity the Blood Pressure Association to take free heart screening out onto the high street to help prevent heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and other cardiovascular problems among Kingston residents.
All residents aged 40-74 are eligible for the ‘NHS Health Check’, provided they haven’t already been diagnosed with high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, heart disease or have had a heart attack or stroke.
There’s no need for an appointment, and in just 20 minutes residents can have their full NHS Health Check, which includes blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol, diabetes and waist circumference testing.
Dr Jonathan Hildebrand, Director of Public Health at NHS Kingston, said: “Poor cardiovascular health is Kingston’s biggest killer and we want to save the hundreds of lives lost each year due to this. The first step is to get a full NHS Health Check, so that’s why we’ve brought this free and convenient screening to popular venues around the borough – it really couldn’t be easier for residents to stop by.”
Mike Rich, Executive Director of UK charity the Blood Pressure Association, said: “Many people don’t even know they’re at risk of heart attack or stroke, because some heart problems, such as high blood pressure, are symptomless. The good news is that once detected, these conditions can be successfully controlled, so I hope all eligible residents will take advantage of these potentially life-saving tests.”
This programme is part of a national initiative which aims to provide all adults in England aged 40-74 with a vascular risk assessment every five years.
During the coming weeks residents aged 40-74 can get screened at the following locations:
Friday 22 & Saturday 23 January, 10am-4pmScreening van in car park of Kingston Asda, London Road
Thursday 28 January, 10am-6pm Portable screening surgery in Crescent Resource Centre, Cocks Crescent, off Blagdon Road
Saturday 30 January, 9am-5pm Screening van in the Market Place, near Costa Coffee
Saturday 6 February, 10am-6pm Portable screening surgery in Piper Hall Community Centre, Piper Road
Monday 8 February, 4pm-9pm Portable screening surgery in St Mary’s Centre, Church Lane, Chessington
Tuesday 9 February, 5pm-9pm Portable screening surgery in St Mary’s Centre, Church Lane, Chessington
Ends
Notes to editors:
- Press will continue to be notified of further dates and locations for NHS Health Checks taking place in the borough.
- For further information or to arrange interviews or photography please contact the BPA's Press Office on 020 8772 4993/4984 or 07939 239 012
- For further information from NHS Kingston, please contact Jo Dandridge, Communications Coordinator on 020 8339 8067 or email jo.dandridge@kpct.nhs.uk
- The Blood Pressure Association is the UK’s blood pressure charity which aims to lower the nation’s blood pressure. The award-winning charity provides information and support for people with high blood pressure and raises awareness about its prevention. For more details visit www.bpassoc.org.uk or call 020 8722 4994.