Workplace health screening for high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol is currently undertaken and offered to various departments in the civil service. The aim is to prevent long term illnesses such as heart disease and stroke.
Individual health screening seeks to detect an illness risk factor before it causes disease. For example, a raised blood pressure and high cholesterol levels usually progress without any symptoms until a serious event such as a heart attack or stroke occurs.
An occupational health nurse visits the department and individual screening with on the spot blood tests are undertaken. Blood pressure, pulse, cholesterol and sugar levels are measured and the results are given to the employee. Advice relating to concerns or abnormal results is delivered. The results are kept confidentially by the CSOHD.