Workplace heart health checks are being rolled out across Northumberland.

The checks are part of a pilot scheme by the Department of Health and Social Care, and will be delivered by Northumberland County Council’s in-house health trainers until March 2025.

They aim to provide people with information about their risk of having a heart attack or stroke, or of developing diabetes or dementia, and support them to reduce their risk.

The checks will involve checking blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference, and questions on health behaviour including smoking status.

For those aged 40 to 74 years without existing conditions, the health trainers will offer a full NHS health check, which includes questions about family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and a blood test for cholesterol and (if at high risk) diabetes.

Councillor Veronica Jones, cabinet member for public health at Northumberland County Council, said: "We are delighted to be part of a pilot programme that helps people to identify CVD and provide advice on how to address the risk factors.

"CVD is one of the main causes of death and disability in the UK, but it can often largely be prevented by adopting healthy behaviours and identifying and treating high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes early."