NEAS offers health MOTs to help reduce heart disease in local communities

The North East Ambulance Service is looking for more people to sign up for its health MOT as it works with its research team to find the best ways to reduce pressures improve community health, ultimately on the ambulance service.

NEAS has already supported over 200 individuals through a research study designed to help reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke in local communities.

The NEAS Health MOT, which began in January 2024, aims to explore if a health MOT comprising a pulse check, blood pressure check, cholesterol check and information about how to stop smoking and reduce alcohol consumption, delivered by a paramedic in the community, can help people seek further support from their GP or local stop smoking team.

Speaking at NHS ConFed Expo 2024, Rory Deighton, director of the NHS Confederation’s Acute Network encouraged other ambulance services to look at the initiative, saying that the NHS welcomes any measures that will help take the pressure off urgent and emergency care services as well as making sure patients are getting timely care in the best possible environment.

The trial began is due to continue until October 2024, and the team is looking for more community groups to get in touch.

“By visiting places where people work, live and socialise, we are aiming to increase the uptake of health checks, especially by people who wouldn’t normally receive one in a traditional GP setting. The risk factors often don’t have symptoms, so health checks are an important way of reducing a person’s risk of heart disease and stroke.”

Karl Charlton, Research Paramedic, North East Ambulance Service.

Karl explained that through the Health MOT, NEAS is able to calculate BMI, the risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years, advising patients about their heart, age compared to a healthy person and, where necessary, make a referral to their GP practice for them. He says that by doing this work they can prevent them from needing an ambulance in the future.

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