PocDoc and West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership announce rollout of innovative home tests for cardiovascular disease

Cambridge, UK, 7th January 2025: PocDoc and the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (West Yorkshire NHS Integrated Care Board) are today announcing the rollout of groundbreaking cardiovascular disease (CVD) health screenings to targeted local communities, as part of the Partnership’s commitment to increasing the years of life that local people live in good health.

The ‘Healthy Heart Check’ uses PocDoc’s app-based technology to offer patients a comprehensive cholesterol profile, body mass index score, heart age estimate, and a ten-year risk assessment for having a heart attack or stroke. The use of the new technology means patients can have the results of their screening within minutes and start making healthy changes straight away.

Patients will also be offered resources to help them understand their results and lifestyle advice on how to improve their heart health.

In West Yorkshire, almost 6% of the adult population has CVD, and over 115,000 people are at high risk of developing a heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years according to their QRISK score.

By detecting risk early, it means patients have the chance to reduce their risk through a healthy diet and exercise, as well as receiving further preventative care if needed.

Importantly, the ‘Healthy Heart Check’ is proven to be successful in reaching ‘at risk’ groups, including Black or South Asian people, those with severe mental illness or learning disabilities, people living in deprivation, men aged 40 to 59 and women aged 35 to 55.

The first screenings will be delivered at the following sites:

- Get Set Goal at the University of Huddersfield

- Healthy Heart Community Hubs in Wakefield

- Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Pathfinder pilot sites

Screenings will be offered to those in attendance at these sites who are identified as being at high risk of CVD and meet the eligibility criteria.

Steve Roest, CEO at PocDoc, commented:

“We are thrilled to be partnering with West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership to bring essential cardiovascular disease (CVD) health screenings to communities in West Yorkshire. Our patented technology is driving a step change in how we tackle chronic diseases.5

“CVD presents a major threat to the health of millions of people, and many incidences can be prevented by earlier diagnosis. Yet many of those at risk don’t test early enough and suffer down the line as a result.

“This partnership underscores West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership’s commitment to closing this gap - ensuring that many of those who might previously have been unwilling or unable to access preventative testing can do so within their own communities, through using our Health Heart Check."

Emily Turner, CVD Clinical Lead, West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, said: 

“CVD impacts thousands of people across West Yorkshire, and an even greater number are at risk. That’s why we are excited to be starting this new initiative.

“By focusing on prevention, we can tackle this disease, but we must reach those most at risk. One of the main ways of doing this is improving access to digital solutions that are easy to use and convenient. This smartphone-based technology helps patients detect potential problems faster and earlier and is an excellent example of our commitment to using technology to improve patient outcomes and address health inequality in our community.”