NHS Health Checks offer screening to identify the early signs of poor health, allowing people to make important lifestyle changes, while sexual health services delivered by GPs enable people to access a range of contraceptive choices.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “Improving the health and wellbeing of Wolverhampton residents is one of the council’s top priorities and we are delighted to have been able to recommission these 2 important services for a further 2 years.
“We carried out a wide ranging consultation last year, with over 1,700 responses. The vast majority of people told us they would rather access their GP for these types of services and, thanks to this £700,000 investment, they will be able to continue to do so.
“This is a real boost for local GPs, and means we are able to take these important services closer to our communities.”
All GP practices in Wolverhampton are signed up to deliver NHS Health Checks. They are available to anyone aged 40 to 74 who does not have a pre existing condition once every 5 years.
They enable GPs to help pick up problems like high blood pressure and high cholesterol at an earlier stage and to offer support to help patients go smoke free, reduce their alcohol consumption, manage their weight or increase their physical activity levels.
To find out more about NHS Health Checks, please contact your GP or visit NHS Health Check. Online tools are also available to enable people to check and assess their health. For details, visit Check Your Health.
Meanwhile 12 GP practices across the city, including Ashfield Practice, Ashmore Park Health Centre, Mayfield Medical Centre, Castlecroft Medical Practice, Cannock Road Practice, Tettenhall Medical Practice, Whitmore Reans Medical Practice, Prestbury Medical Practice, East Park Medical Centre, Fordhouses Medical Centre, Newbridge Surgery and Showell Park Health Centre will deliver Sexual Health Services.
The service includes Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC), methods of birth control that provide effective contraception that last for a long period of time and can be removed if necessary. In addition, those GP practices will also provide chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing.
These services are also available for people registered at a further 32 GP practices that form part of 4 Primary Care Networks (PCNs) in the city, including The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust PCN, Wolverhampton North Network and East and West Unity PCNs.
For further information on NHS health checks and LARC, contact your local GP practice. For other advice in relation to sexual health contact Embrace Wolverhampton.
