Boots starts offering free 15-minute “health checks” for over 40s to ease pressure on the NHS

Over 40s in England can now book a free MOT with Boots.

The 15-minute check-up, which is offered in 1,000 shops, checks blood pressure.

Anyone with a high score — meaning they’re at higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke — is referred to their GP.

BMI and waist circumference can also be measured at the customer’s request.

You will then receive individual advice and recommendations on how to lead a healthier lifestyle through exercise and nutrition.

The free 15 minute boat check can be booked in 1,000 shops across England. The chain’s claims will help ease pressure on the NHS

The health MOT includes a blood pressure check and some optional tests to check if a person is overweight

Boots said the scheme could help ease pressure on the NHS, which is struggling with record backlogs and unprecedented demand.

Claire Nevinson, Superintendent Pharmacist at Boots, said: “Boots’ Free Health TÜV is designed to help people gain better insight into their health and take the necessary steps to improve it.

“As we get older we become more susceptible to conditions like high blood pressure, so it’s important that we take steps to stay healthy.

“The checks carried out during the MOT audit and the advice provided not only help individual patients to lead healthier lives, but also reduce pressure on the NHS by providing accessible care in pharmacies in the heart of communities.”

It is hoped the campaign, which will run until June, will help Brits suffering from high blood pressure get treatment sooner.

The disease’s symptoms are difficult to spot in everyday life, earning it the nickname of the “silent killer.”

It is estimated that just over 200 Britons are killed a day, with the daily number rising to nearly 1,370 in the US.

However, it is believed that between six and eight million Britons are living with undiagnosed and therefore uncontrolled high blood pressure.

Once diagnosed, people can then be encouraged to make lifestyle changes, e.g. For example, eating less salt and exercising more can help control high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.

General practitioners may also prescribe medications to lower blood pressure.

The boat health MOT, which is carried out at a pharmacist, includes:

• The NHS blood pressure monitoring service, with a referral from a GP if necessary
• Optional measurement of BMI and waist circumference
• Lifestyle advice on exercise, nutrition, sleep, mental wellbeing and smoking cessation

At the end of their appointment, patients receive a brochure with information about healthy living and a section with the results of their MOT.

The idea behind the free MOT was sparked by a study commissioned by Boots, which found that 68 percent of people want to feel healthier, with that proportion rising to 73 percent for those over 40.

Such MOTs are not a new concept as NHS England introduced their version in 2009.

However, such campaigns were not without criticism.

A 2015 report by the London School of Economics and the University of Liverpool accused the checks of being “ineffective” and wasting £450m ($547m) a year.

This NHS check was also offered to those over 40, but unlike the Boots version, they cut out at 74.

Patients registered with a GP will be invited to attend 30-minute appointments every five years to monitor their risk for conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

The NHS Health MOT program offers:

• A conversation about your lifestyle and family history
• Measure your height and weight
• blood pressure control
• blood tests
• Personalized lifestyle advice

Although a study of more than 450,000 people found years later those who took MOTs were slimmer, smoked less and had lower blood pressure, a 2014 review found that diseases discovered during the exams could be “recognized just as well” by the standard supply.

Over 75s in England receive a special regular routine check-up from their GP.

These cover a wide range of health issues, from checking blood pressure to early signs of dementia, although many older people also use the appointment as an opportunity to ask a doctor about their health concerns.