Vascular disease (heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease) is the biggest cause of death in the UK. In England vascular disease also makes up approximately a third of the difference in life between the most deprived areas and the rest of England. In the East Midlands vascular disease accounts for 49.5% of all deaths in people aged 40-74.
In the national NHS Health Checks (NHS HCs) programme individuals aged 40-74 without diagnosed vascular disease will be offered a check once every five years, potentially:
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preventing around 445 heart attacks and 550 strokes
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preventing over 7,900 people from developing diabetes
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detecting at least 19,000 cases of diabetes and 24,000 cases kidney disease earlier, allowing individuals to be better managed and improve their quality of life
The NHS would also save £57m on average per year over the first four years of implementation.
All primary care trusts in the Eat Midlands need to offer health checks to 20% of eligible people aged 40-74 years annually from 2012/13.
PCTs in the East Midlands under financial constraints have the option in 2011/12 to target or limit offers to a subgroup at higher risk to optimise costs and benefits. Only two PCTs in the East Midlands needed to take up this targeted approach for 2011/12.
