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Universal health checks planned
22/03/2010
The process of introducing face to face universal health checks for all Scots aged 40-74 will begin in the autumn.
The first steps will be to identify the health boards who will take forward the pilot of the service, with the first patients receiving their 'heart MOT' during 2011.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon also welcomed the start next month of a pioneering, web-based self assessment for 40-year-olds, 'Life Begins at 40' - a service that will be piloted in NHS Grampian and, after evaluation, will roll out across Scotland.
Ms Sturgeon said:
"Prevention is better than cure and we are committed to doing all that we can to identify those at risk from heart disease, diabetes and stroke as early as possible.
"The new 'heart MOT' health check will provide vital research in health prevention. The checks for all individuals aged 40-74 - not just those believed to be at risk - will mean that we will be able to test the success of a general heart check-up for the first time.
"Keep Well is already successfully tackling health inequalities in our poorest communities. It has made a difference to thousands of people's lives and with this development, 170,000 Scots will get the extra help and treatment that they need."
The Scottish Government will also continue to support health check programmes that target those most at risk. The Keep Well programme, which currently provides health checks in certain areas of high deprivation, will now be extended to cover all of Scotland's poorest communities from 2012.