Last updated at 10:50, Friday, 07 December 2012

Pharmacies in Cumbria are offering free NHS Health Checks, as part of a campaign emphasising prevention rather than cure.

The checks are for people aged 40 to 74, and offer screening for the four main causes of early deaths in the county: heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.

More than 100,000 people will be invited for their free health MOT over the next five years. Rather than being forced to rely on visiting their GP to be assessed, a small number of pharmacies will also be offering the service.

The programme is aimed at helping to stem the rising tide of lifestyle-related diseases and provide advice and support to those at-risk.

Dr Rebecca Wagstaff, NHS Cumbria’s deputy director of public health, said: “The NHS needs to move from a service which people only turn to for treatment, into one from which they receive support and advice from on reducing their risk of developing serious diseases.

“Everyone is at risk of developing heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes or kidney disease. Often in the early stages, there are very few symptoms.

“The good news is that these diseases can often be prevented.”

First published at 10:39, Friday, 07 December 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk