Heart Month 2025: Earlier screening for cardiovascular disease could save 136,000 deaths per year

Cambridge, UK, 3rd February, 2025 – PocDoc, the nation’s leading digital health diagnostics company, has partnered with Well, one of the UK’s largest pharmacy chains, to roll out a revolutionary at-home CVD test, that is poised to become the best-selling health kit since the COVID pandemic.

With CVD, heart and circulatory diseases responsible for the death of 170,000 in Britain a year and cardiovascular disease alone costing the NHS £7.4 billion annually⁴, this pioneering test makes preventative care for this chronic disease more accessible than ever before. It also enables individuals to take control of their health and ease the strain on the healthcare system.

The opportunity is significant: not only does NHS research indicate that every digital health check could save 20 minutes of a GP’s time,⁵ 80% of CVD cases can be prevented through early detection - equivalent to saving an estimated 136,000 deaths per year in the UK. For patients, the test also dramatically reduces the time it typically takes to arrange, undertake, and receive outcomes from a standard blood test.

The ‘Healthy Heart Check’, available online now and in all Well pharmacies across the country⁶, provides users with a full cholesterol profile, body mass index (BMI) score, NHS heart age, and a 10-year risk assessment for heart attacks and strokes. Patients picking up the test will also be able to have a free Blood Pressure check.

The finger-prick test delivers instant results. Patients take a small blood sample, drop it onto the PocDoc test and, after 7 minutes, take a photo of the reading with their smartphone or tablet. Results are processed and appear instantly in the PocDoc app and can be shared directly with their GP either via the NHS app or manually.

The partnership with Well builds on PocDoc’s existing rollout across the UK within the NHS. In June 2024, PocDoc became the first private diagnostics provider to integrate with the NHS app.

Steve Roest, CEO and co-founder of PocDoc, said: 

“CVD is the UK’s biggest killer, but prevention is the key to beating it. Our patented technology helps people detect issues earlier, faster, and with less hassle.⁷

“Pharmacies like Well are vital to making health testing more accessible. They’re at the heart of communities, and this partnership ensures more people – especially those at greatest risk – can take charge of their heart health.”

Andrew Caplan, Chief Retail Officer at Well Pharmacy, commented: 

“We are always seeking innovative ways to support the communities we work in, and PocDoc’s Healthy Heart Check is a perfect example. It’s a game-changer, empowering people to take proactive steps to prevent serious conditions like cardiovascular disease.

“It’s been a pleasure to work with PocDoc’s team to make this rollout a reality. It’s easy to see why the company is growing at such a rate and we look forward to exploring further opportunities with them in the future. ”

For more information, visit Well.co.uk or contact PocDoc.