Statistical Publication Notice

27 July 2010 (revised 30 July 2010)

Click here for Cardiovascular Anticipatory Care Screenings 2009-10

Introduction

Since 2006, NHS Boards have been delivering inequalities targeted cardiovascular health screenings through the Keep Well and Well North anticipatory care programs managed by NHS Health Scotland. These programs aim to reduce cardiovascular mortality through early detection of risk factors and other health problems. Health checks are targeted on the most deprived communities in Scotland which generally have the highest rates of mortality and hospital admissions.

Deprived communities are generally identified by their postcode or geographical area.   More recently, screenings have also been extended to other groups that experience higher levels of deprivation, e.g. traveller communities.

Although there is some outreach work to engage with deprived communities most of the health screenings take place in a general practice setting.  Health screenings are usually carried out by a general practitioner or nurse.

At the health screening, a cardiovascular risk assessment is performed and a standard dataset collected.  The dataset includes data on height, weight, blood pressure, cholesterol level, smoking status and alcohol consumption.  Information on social factors that might affect access to health services, e.g. ethnicity, language and literacy are also collected.  Individuals then receive sign-posting or onward referral to other services as appropriate.

An assessment of the number of inequalities targeted cardiovascular health screenings for each NHS board against a target is one of the Scottish Government’s current ‘HEAT’ performance indicators.  Further information on this target can be found on the Scottish Government’s Scotland Performs website.

Key Points

A total of 29,433 checks were carried out in 12 Health Boards in Scotland in the year to 31st March 2010, against a target of 28,000 checks for Scotland as whole.

The number of checks varied from 30 in Shetland NHS Board to 9,085 in Lanarkshire NHS Board. 

This publication was released for the first time on 27 July 2010 and subsequently revised on 30 July 2010.  The revised publication now includes data for NHS Borders which was not available at the original release date.  The revised publication reports that NHS Borders carried out 47 cardiovascular health screenings during 2009/10. 

The inclusion of NHS Borders data increases the total number of cardiovascular health screenings carried out in Scotland during 2009/10 from 29,386 to 29,433.  Therefore the impact of this revision on the national total of cardiovascular health screenings is minor.

Interpretation

There is currently no data for Dumfries & Galloway or Orkney.  However, these boards are involved in the Keep Well/Well North programmes and will start screening in 2010/11.

The target populations for screening vary in size.  This is not only due to the fact that NHS Board populations are of unequal size but also because only selected GP practices within each NHS Board participate in Keep Well/Well North.

Not all of the Keep Well/Well North programs began screening at the same time.

Main Contacts

Dr Colin Fischbacher
Consultant in Public Health Medicine
0131 275 7063
colin.fischbacher@nhs.net

Pre-Release Access

Under terms of the "Pre-Release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Order 2008", ISD are obliged to publish information on those receiving Pre-Release Access ("Pre-Release Access" refers to statistics in their final form prior to publication). The standard maximum Pre-Release Access is five working days. Shown below are details of those receiving standard Pre-Release Access and, separately, those receiving extended Pre-Release Access.

Standard Pre-Release Access

Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division)
NHS Board Chief Executives
NHS Board Communication leads

Extended Pre-Release Access

Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division)
This extended Pre-Release Access is given to a small number of named individuals in the Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division). This Pre-Release Access is for the sole purpose of enabling that department to gain an understanding of the statistics prior to briefing others in Scottish Government (during the period of standard Pre-Release Access).

History of this Publication

Last Published: N/A
Next Due: July 2011
Data Available Since: N/A