The report is the result of a number of focus group discussions conducted to investigate the community’s experiences and perceptions of the NHS Health Check programme in Birmingham. It is part of a collaborative endeavour between Birmingham City Council, Birmingham City University, and local community organisations to try and resolve health services access issues resulting from service-user-defined factors of NHS Health Checks.
The NHS Health Check is an essential preventative measure designed to mitigate the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and kidney disease. NHS Health Checks are necessary for early detection and prevention of disease for the people living in Birmingham. Nonetheless, despite its significance, uptake within the diverse communities of Birmingham is less than optimal. This study seeks to comprehend the uptake influences and the factors that can be changed to make it possible.
A co-production approach formed the foundation of this project by collaborating with community partners to strategize, implement, and evaluate the engagement activities. Coproduction was implemented in this case to ensure approaches that were culturally appropriate and accessible and that could build trust and support racially marginalised communities to engage more meaningfully.
The research therefore employed focus groups to explore the following key areas:
• Awareness and Understanding: To assess community knowledge and expectations regarding NHS Health Checks.
• Experiences: To gather insights into previous experiences with NHS Health Checks, including both positive and negative aspects.
• Barriers and Facilitators: To identify factors that hinder or encourage participation in NHS Health Checks.
• Customer Journey: To examine the entire process, from invitation to delivery, identifying areas for potential optimisation.
• Cultural Relevance: To determine how NHS Health Checks can be made more appropriate and accessible for diverse communities, considering factors such as communication, location, language, and cultural awareness.
The research specifically considered the perspectives of individuals with varying levels of experience with NHS Health Checks, including:
• Eligible individuals who have previously attended a check.
• Eligible individuals who have not previously attended a check.
• Individuals approaching the eligible age.
• NHS Staff who deliver the Health Check (for specific focus group)
The findings of this research will inform recommendations for Public Health, NHS Health Check providers, and other stakeholders, with the ultimate goal of increasing uptake and improving the effectiveness of this vital preventative service.
Tags
community-led, co-production, service-access, early-detection, prevention