Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP, Alasdair Allan, today welcomed the publication of statistics by ISD Scotland, the Information Services Division of NHS Scotland, which show particularly high numbers of island residents obtaining cardio-vascular disease focussed ‘keep well health check ups’. These check-ups are offered free to 40 to 64 year olds by the NHS in Scotland.
Alasdair Allan commented:
“Throughout Scotland almost 48,000 people obtained ‘keep well health check ups’ in 2011/2012, a substantial increase on the 41,000 participants the previous year. These figures far exceed the national target of around 27,000, and NHS Western Isles should be congratulated for their role in this success.
“The number of ‘keep well health check ups’ carried out by NHS Eileanan Siar was 440, around double what should be expected given the size of our population, and more than those carried out in Orkney and Shetland combined.
“Scotland spends over £11bn each year (around one third of the Scottish Government’s budget) on our NHS because we believe that health services should be free at the point of need. To ensure that this distinctly Scottish priority continues to be sustainable, we have a long term interest in shifting the focus of healthcare to preventative measures, such as this free health check.
“I had my first ‘keep well health check’ carried out last year and believe it is a real cause for optimism that so many of our citizens are responding positively to this progressive discourse for health and wellbeing.”
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