Table 5 Health practitioners’ views of the Health Checks programme
Positive | Negative |
|---|---|
People are checked earlier in life rather than waiting for problems to develop | The worried well are most likely take the messages on board |
Help to identify people at high risk that had been missed before | The Practice is good at screening for high risk patients even without the formal Health Check |
Help to identify and support people with high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, as well as heavy smokers and heavy drinkers | It has a big impact on workload and cost implications |
Many people wanted a cholesterol check. | There is uncertainty about whether people take the advice given to them in Health Checks |
Those that attended the health check were motivated and open to advice. | They get the patients who want to attend but not the patients who need their intervention the most |
The Health Checks have worked well for the worried well as well as those that have a high risk | They are not getting full time workers as appointments are only offered before 4 pm |
Good patient feedback | Appropriate referrals cannot be made due to cuts in services |