PocDoc and Imperial College Health Partners announce community screening for cardiovascular disease

Cambridge, UK, 14^th February 2025: PocDoc and Imperial College Health Partners (ICHP) today announce the launch of a new community screening project to identify individuals at high risk of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD).

The project will focus on underserved communities in North West London who are at risk of poorer health outcomes. The solution will be implemented where there is already community in-reach for the detection of hypertension, delivering a more holistic CVD assessment.

Supported by funding from The NHS North West London Health Equity team and ICHP, implementation sites in Westminster and Brent will conduct a thousand point-of-care (CVD) Health Checks across North West London. These two teams have been confirmed as the first CVD Implementation Sites in NW London, following a competitive application process.

Using PocDoc’s ‘Healthy Heart Check’ this programme will offer patients a comprehensive cholesterol and diabetes profile, body mass index score, NHS heart age, and a ten-year risk assessment for heart attacks or stroke. Carried out via a phone, it empowers people to detect and prevent CVD easily and quickly, with no need to visit a GP or hospital for testing. To date, 96% of participants have found PocDoc more convenient than visiting their GP.¹

Digital diagnostics hold the promise of transforming the health service. The NHS currently spends more treating cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases than any other illness - including £7.4 billion for CVD alone.² Against this backdrop, NHS research estimates that each digital health check could save 20 minutes of NHS time³, freeing up thousands of GP appointments.

This partnership builds on PocDoc’s mission to increase accessibility to preventative testing across the UK to those who need it most. The project aims to address health inequalities by providing an additional way for individuals to screen for CVD, which doesn’t involve visiting their GP. This is particularly beneficial for people with childcare and work responsibilities, or those facing transport barriers.

Steve Roest, CEO at PocDoc, commented: 

“We are thrilled to announce the first phase of this project with Imperial College Health Partners, funded by NHS North West London, to bring essential cardiovascular disease (CVD) health screenings to underserved communities in North West London. Our patented technology is driving a step change in how we tackle chronic diseases.

“Health inequality is a major issue in the UK. Providing additional, easy-to-access screening opportunities for chronic diseases like CVD is essential to closing this gap. By offering touch testing points throughout the community, this partnership will make it easier for individuals to take preventative action on their health, without needing to visit their GP.”

Clare Thomson, Innovation and Mission Lead at Imperial College Health Partners said: 

“We are delighted to partner with PocDoc and to be able to connect them with our local NHS partners to implement this innovation. PocDoc has the potential to play a key role in our ambitious agenda to reduce 25% of strokes and heart attacks by 2029 through innovation. By providing the opportunity to test for their CVD risk in a convenient and efficient way, we’re enabling members of the local community to take control of their heart health and take preventative action sooner rather than later”

“PocDoc’s Healthy Heart Check is a truly innovative tool and highlights the power of innovation for the future of our public health. Not only will this project ensure we support the more underserved members of the community, but it will also save our health service valuable time and money.”