Equality
We will reduce inequalities in the levels of heart
disease across the UK.
We aim to achieve this by:
- focusing on communities and locations where the problem is most
severe, typically those which are socially and economically
deprived, and have specific high-risk ethnic groups.
Our achievements in 2008-09
Our BHF Heart Health
Roadshows are designed to target those parts of the
community where the risk of heart disease is greater than others,
by taking the message directly to them. The first pilot scheme took
place in Newcastle in 2009 – and it’s already made a big
difference.
Free consultation
Judith Moffat was doing
her shopping in Asda when she met our roadshow team and had a free
consultation with a BHF Heart Nurse. It was only then that she
discovered her blood pressure was very high – and received clear,
practical advice and a referral to her GP to help change her life
for the better.
Since then, the transformation has been amazing. Judith has lost
over two stone in weight and now goes to the gym regularly and eats
healthily.
New roadshows across the country
We aim to
help many more people like Judith by rolling out the new roadshows
across the country – from East London to Bradford. We are also
working on an online lifestyle check to launch later in 2009.
Other highlights in brief:
- Our Hearty Lives initiative has seen us
providing support to taxi drivers in Dundee and local teenagers in
Newham – providing everything from specialist advice for those in
jobs that involve remaining seated for long periods, to support on
stopping smoking.
We now plan to expand the programme to other high-risk communities
throughout the UK.
- We’ve partnered Marie Curie Cancer Care on the Better Together
initiative, designed to encourage BHF Heart Failure Specialist
Nurses to refer patients for specialist care at the end of life. As
a result of our work together, referrals have risen to as high as
17% (depending on the location).
