Table 7 Programmatic Elements to be Nationally Prescribed, Encouraged Nationally, or Left to Local Discretion
From: Postcode Lotteries in Public Health - The NHS Health Checks Programme in North West London
Nationally prescribed guidelines and standards that are mandatory | National guidance that is non-mandatory | Programmatic elements that are entirely left to local discretion | |
|---|---|---|---|
Eligibility for Health Check | Eligibility criteria in terms of age and ethnicity, with some allowance for clinical discretion | ||
Approach to achieving coverage | Stipulate use of both systematic and opportunistic approaches; as well as GP and non-GP settings (to avoid increasing inequity) Minimum coverage targets | Provide guidance on how systematic screening should be organised annually. Provide suggested targets for non-GP screening | Identification of non-GP settings and opportunistic approaches |
Funding and payment structure | Guidance on payment rates per Health Check Suggested minimum and maximum cost of the programme per 100,000 population | ||
Equipment and screening instruments | CVD Risk Calculation Tool | POCT equipment that is accredited by MHRA Approach to diabetes and pre diabetes screening | Procurement of POCT. |
Additional Interventions | Recommended additional screening tests that could be part of a Health Check Recommended method or tools for additional screening (e.g. AUDITc for alcohol screening) | Final selection of additional screening tests and tools | |
Monitoring and evaluation | Mandatory minimum dataset Minimum requirements for evaluation of quality and outcomes. | Guidance on suggested methods for evaluation of quality and outcomes. including an equity analysis | Final design of M&E strategy |
Referral Pathways | Referral criteria and expectations for clinical conditions requiring medical attention | Best practice referral guidelines for weight management, smoking cessation, etc | Design of local referral pathways and commissioning of required services |