New YEAR NEW START: mini Medicals give employees peace of mind
At Citi Health we believe that preventative healthcare is one of the most important investments an employer can make in their workforce. Making your employees feel valued helps to foster a healthy working environment, and in the New Year one of the most sought-after services we offer are our mini medicals.
In these confidential 20 minute assessments our nurses carry out a handful of simple tests from which they can quickly assess an employee’s overall health. January is a time for new resolutions, and these quick and easy health assessments offer an opportunity for people to make any necessary changes to their lifestyle which could prevent them from developing serious health conditions later on. Some of the most common health conditions in the UK today are almost entirely preventable but once an individual has developed them, they can seriously impact their quality of life; the most common conditions like this in the UK are diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Diabetes
Diabetes is widely considered to be a hidden epidemic among both the general population and the workforce. Diabetes UK estimates that more than 5.6 million people in the UK are living with diabetes, a number at an all-time high, with 1.2 million people likely to be living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. Every week, diabetes leads to 184 amputations, more than 930 strokes, 660 heart attacks and 2,990 cases of heart failure. In addition to this, the population is increasingly developing Type 2 Diabetes earlier, meaning a large proportion of people living with diabetes are of working age.
According to the British Safety Council, for every 1,000 employees, it is estimated 82 will have diabetes. As well as posing a health and safety risk, non-severe hypos can have a significant impact on worker productivity and wellbeing. For instance, research has found that in a company of 1,000 people, 204 hours per month (51 hours a week), are lost due to missed or lost work from non-severe hypos.
Meanwhile the NHS spends at least £10 billion a year on treating diabetes - around 10% of its entire budget.
Cardiovascular disease
CVD is the second most common cause of death in the UK, after dementia and Alzheimer's disease and it is estimated that more than 7.6 million people in the UK are living with cardiovascular disease.
In 2022, around 175,000 people in the UK died from CVD but it remains one of the most preventable diseases: if people have developed CVD it can be identified and managed in time to save lives.
Stroke
High blood pressure and high cholesterol are common contributing factors for stroke, as is diabetes. There are around 100,000 new stroke cases annually in the UK, a quarter of which happen to people of working age.
In 2019 the NHS estimated that as well as being devastating for patients and their families, strokes were estimated to cost the NHS around £3 billion per year, with additional costs to the economy of a further £4 billion in lost productivity, disability and informal care. More recent figures put the aggregate societal cost of stroke at £26 billion per year for the UK, including £8.6 billion for NHS and social care.
Mini medicals give peace of mind
Undertaken in complete confidence, our mini medicals last just 20 minutes, and have been designed specifically to identify key risk factors which point towards any underlying health issues, and to issue advice intended to help employees to stay as healthy as possible, and to promote wellbeing at work.
What happens in a mini medical?
Four key health indicators are assessed; body mass index, blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol. With these, conditions such as risk of diabetes, heart disease and hypertension can be identified, and hopefully mitigated by lifestyle adjustments and the ongoing help of a GP if required.
On completion of these tests our nurse will advise on the outcomes of the results and they also may suggest a follow up with a GP if it is required.
Key factors which can be identified and remedied include;
· Encouraging smokers to stop, or apply cessation methods
· Making changes to improve diet.
· Ensuring that people’s weight and waist ratio are in check.
· Beginning regular physical activity by joining a gym, walking more, or taking breaks from your desk
· Reduction of alcohol consumption.
Booking in a mini medicals clinic with Citi Health
If you would like us to provide a clinic for your organisation this January just get in touch and select a date which suits you. Employees can make and change appointments with our online booking system, after which all you have to do is book a room and spread the word. to find out more, contact gayle@citihealth.co.uk or call 0203 633 6301 for a tailor-made package.
