Public Health Wales launch new over 50s health assessment

People over the age of 50 will be able to perform online health checks as part of a new scheme designed to improve people’s health.

The Addtoyourlife.co.uk website, developed by Public Health Wales, is set to provide tailored health and wellbeing information, advice and direct people to necessary support to help them live healthier lifestyles.

The service, which will also be available by telephone, is a self-assessment for the estimated 1,177,000 people in Wales over the age of 50 to provide them overall picture of their health and wellbeing and to help them make better lifestyle choices.

 It can be accessed through computer, smart phone, or tablet computer and targeted community support will also be available through Communities First, Age Cymru and NHS Direct Wales.

 Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Ruth Hussey, said: “As people get older, they are more at risk of developing cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and other long term conditions.

“The earlier risk is detected, the greater the chances of taking action to prevent that risk from becoming a reality.

“It is also part of a greater shift in emphasis in health services in Wales from focusing solely on treating illness to a greater focus on improving and protecting health for all.”

Susan Mably, consultant in public health from Public Health Wales, said: “Add to Your Life is a chance to get an overview of your health and wellbeing, in your own time and in a place that suits you.

“It brings together information from health experts and charities across a wide range of health and wellbeing topics into one place, and it can be accessed by anyone for free.”

Everyone in Wales turning 50 will be invited by post to complete the assessment.

Over 50s health checks were a manifesto pledge by the Labour party in 2011, and were set to be led by GPs and other health professionals. But an announcement last year that the checks would predominantly be online led to accusations from opposition parties of a broken promise.

Shadow Health Minister Darren Millar said: “Making the check-ups available online is messy climbdown resulting from opposition from clinicians and may not achieve its goal given that many older people do not have internet access. I predict that take-up rates will be low.”

Kirsty Williams, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said: “This is not what the Welsh Labour Government had originally promised.

 “It is clear that this policy was not based on medical advice and the groundwork for it hadn’t been done.”