MP URGES ACTION ON CHOLESTEROL

Friday, 16 December 2011

John Pugh MP today called for NHS Sefton to ensure that health checks are a priority after a report produced by HEART UK highlighted the risk of cholesterol-related conditions going unseen until it was too late.  Statistics show that the North West suffers a higher than average mortality rate from heart disease.

The report strongly recommended that NHS Trusts maintain health checks to ensure that the chance of early death owing to high cholesterol and other cardiovascular risk factors was reduced.

The NHS Health Check Programme was begun in 2009 to help spot the early warning signs for major diseases by assessing risk factors for these conditions in patients aged 40 to 74.  However, the programme has run into trouble owing to a lack of funding and diminishing support from GPs.  John Pugh MP urged NHS Sefton to ensure that the health checks retained their importance at the launch of HEART UK’s report in Westminster today.  He said:

"It is crucial that the health checks are maintained.  Spotting the symptoms of life-threatening cholesterol conditions at an early stage will help to save lives by allowing individuals to head them off through lifestyle changes or relatively low-risk treatment."

"Leaving it late means a greater danger of having to risk surgery or other intensive treatment, which places a heavier burden on patients’ health and on the NHS system.  It is in everyone’s interest to ensure that the tell-tale signs of dangerous diseases are spotted as soon as possible."