Farron calls on Primary Health Care Trust to fulfill obligations

South lakes MP TIM FARRON is calling for NHS Cumbria to ensure Health Checks are a priority follow ing startling revelations in the HEART UK Report, 'Cholesterol and a Healthier Nation', launched last week in Westminster.

Health Checks, which assess risk factors for people aged 40 to 74, should be carried out to help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. The NHS Health Check programme was launched in 2009, but has suffered in some areas from a lack of funding and waning support from GPs.

HEART UK is calling on Primary Care Trusts to ensure that the Health Checks programme is a priority and is made available to all people aged between 40 and 74, especially those groups which are hard to reach.

Tim said: "I was extremely concerned by the findings of this report. We have to make tackling heart disease a top priority in South Lakes so that avoidable pain and disease is reduced. Health Checks can save lives and public money. We need to encourage our Primary Care Trust to fulfil their obligation to implement these vital checks."

HEART UK Chief Executive Jules Payne said: "I would like to thank Tim Farron for pledging to support HEART UK. Tackling heart disease must be a priority for Primary Care Trusts and undertaking Health Checks is a cost-effective and straightforward way of picking up risk factors for heart conditions before it is too late."