Book a health check appointment

Mar 25 2010 by Debbie Hall, West Lothian Courier

PEOPLE in the most deprived areas of West Lothian are to be offered health checks and advice on a range of health issues, from stopping smoking to eating healthily and cutting down on booze.

NHS Lothian and the West Lothian Community Health and Care Partnership (CHCP) has expanded the Keep Well scheme, which offers comprehensive health checks, to patients in four communities in the county.

The Keep Well scheme aims to reduce health inequalities and focuses on reducing heart disease, stroke and their main risk factors for adults aged 45 to 64 years.

Jim Forrest, director of West Lothian CHCP said: “West Lothian CHCP has an important role in delivering accessible local health services.

“The Keep Well project is one of the ways in which we can make it easy for people to access assessment and treatment early helping to prevent years of ill health.”

Dr Katie Browne, GP at Ashgrove Medical Practice in Blackburn, added: “We recognise that many people in our local area could benefit from a Keep Well health check, which provides earlier assessment and treatment for conditions such as heart disease.

“We are delighted to be able to offer our patients a service that wasn’t previously available.”

The scheme also provides access to a Keep Well outreach worker, who will focus on the wider social aspects that affect people’s health by offering one-to-one support and information for people at participating practices.

The Keep well health check involves a few simple tests carried out by a nurse that could help identify physical and mental health issues.

Elaine Leslie, Keep Well nurse case manager for West Lothian said: “It is well recognised that people living in less affluent areas have a much higher risk of developing serious medical conditions such as heart disease.

“By detecting and treating these problems early, we can prevent years of illness and also premature death.”

The participating practices, which are from four targeted areas across West Lothian, are Ashgrove Medical Practice in Blackburn, Craigshill Health Centre in Livingston, Blackridge Health Centre, Stoneyburn Medical Centre and Whitburn Group Medical Practice.

Anyone interested can contact their local surgery for an appointment.