Why is this HEAT target important?
Reducing inequalities in health is critical to achieving our aim of making Scotland a better, healthier place for everyone, no matter where they live. Deprived populations have considerably higher levels of mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the Keep Well and Well North programmes of health checks are primarily focused on main risk factors, especially blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking and diabetes, but have also taken a whole person approach to patients, recognising their wider needs. Anticipatory care begins with health improvement, but this more focused targeted high risk primary prevention will delay the onset and progress of CVD. Death from Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) in the 10 per cent most deprived areas is 1.9 times higher than for Scotland overall and the particular focus on those at greater risk of premature illness and mortality should go some way to redress the 'inverse care law' - which suggests that when it comes to health care, those who need it most get least.
How are we performing?
Target due for delivery in 2011/12
The number and content of health checks and the inequalities targeting required was agreed with each NHS Board as part of the Local Delivery Plan sign-off process, completed in March 2011. This reflects local circumstances, eligible population and the stage of engagement with appropriate programmes in each Board area. The target for each NHS Board is shown in the table below. The number of health checks delivered in 2010/11 was 41,107.
| NHS Board | Target 2011/12 |
| NHS AYRSHIRE & ARRAN | 1,991 |
| NHS BORDERS | 390 |
| NHS DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY | 1,000 |
| NHS FIFE | 2,100 |
| NHS FORTH VALLEY | 1,000 |
| NHS GRAMPIAN | 1,340 |
| NHS GREATER GLASGOW & CLYDE | 7,050 |
| NHS HIGHLAND | 145 |
| NHS LANARKSHIRE | 4,965 |
| NHS LOTHIAN | 3,980 |
| NHS ORKNEY | 51 |
| NHS SHETLAND | 63 |
| NHS TAYSIDE | 2,264 |
| NHS WESTERN ISLES | 343 |
| NHSSCOTLAND | 26,682 |
Further Information
Cardiovascular Anticipatory Care Screening statistics
Keep Well
Related National Outcomes