17,000+ Health Checks in Cambridgeshire: Reducing Inequalities and Easing Pressure on NHS Services

Cambridgeshire County Council partnered with SISU Health to deliver 17,000+ self-service health checks, reaching underserved residents, easing pressure on the NHS and informing future public health strategy

The challenge – Responding to post-pandemic gaps in health check delivery

During COVID-19, NHS Health Checks across Cambridgeshire had stalled. GP surgeries were overwhelmed, and many residents – especially those in shift-based, manual roles ‒ weren’t engaging with traditional health services.

Routine and manual workers, particularly men aged 40-50, were falling through the cracks. Long shifts, low flexibility and a lack of time meant health checks were often the last thing on their minds. For employers, releasing staff for 30-minute appointments meant disrupting operations. For the Council, it meant missed opportunities to intervene early and prevent long-term health issues.

The solution – Accessible, self-service health checks

With funding from the Department of Health and Social Care, Cambridgeshire County Council – in partnership with Healthy You – launched a six-month pilot with SISU Health.

The initial focus was on workplaces; particularly those with high numbers of routine and manual workers, such as factories and packing facilities.

Building on early success in workplaces, the team then extended the programme into public spaces to maximise reach and impact. Hospitals proved particularly effective settings, reaching not only porters, engineers and maintenance staff, but also admin teams, nursing staff and other groups who might otherwise miss out on preventative support.

The kiosks offered quick, five-minute assessments – blood pressure, BMI, QRISK, stress score, and more. No appointments. No downloads. No disruption. Just instant, actionable insights delivered securely via email or app.

They also attracted members of the public. For those out of work but regularly visiting hospital settings, the kiosks offered access to preventative support they might not otherwise have received.

It’s the opportunity that matters – especially for people who don’t have time to think about their health in busy day-to-day life. Suddenly, they’re at work and the kiosk is right there. That five-minute investment could genuinely save someone’s life.

 

Paul Stokes, Public Health Principal, Cambridgeshire County Council

Results – Reaching the right people, at the right time

The programme delivered far more than just numbers – it reached the right people, at the right time, with the right tools. From workplaces to public venues, SISU Health Stations engaged thousands of residents, many of whom had never accessed preventative care before. The data revealed significant unmet health needs, while repeat usage showed measurable improvements in key health indicators.

• 3,722 GP call-to-actions triggered
• Over 60% had not had a BP check in the past year
• 47.7% reduction in high blood pressure among repeat users
• 18.6% reduction in smoking prevalence
• 13.4% reduction in high body fat percentage
• 22% of checks were completed outside regular GP hours

The stations reached a younger population (median age 39) compared to traditional GP-delivered health checks, helping surface unmet need earlier. Strong uptake in deprived neighbourhoods demonstrated the value of community-based delivery for reducing inequalities.

It’s also worth noting that nearly a quarter of all health checks – 22% – were completed outside regular GP hours. The flexibility of the self-service health station proved crucial for shift workers and busy individuals, enabling access to care at times that suited their schedules.

We’ve seen a massive uptake in those initial health checks, and we’ve seen increased engagement from the groups we were specifically aiming to reach – individuals in areas of deprivation, routine and manual workers, and men.

 

Zoe Cross, Public Health Manager, Cambridgeshire County Council

Strategic value – Proving the model and informing future prevention

For Cambridgeshire County Council, the project validated a simple but powerful idea: that accessible, self-service health checks can prompt meaningful change. One senior director used a kiosk at New Shire Hall, discovered elevated blood pressure and unexpected weight concerns, and made lifestyle changes – without needing formal intervention.

The pilot demonstrated a clear pathway from kiosk to care. Of the 13,000+ digital checks completed in the initial pilot phase, around 500 led to full NHS Health Checks. Data revealed unexpected trends, including high blood pressure among younger users, reinforcing the case for earlier intervention.

While health outcomes are integral, the programme also quantified the economic impact of preventable health risks:

• £7.96 million in annual productivity loss linked to obesity
• £6.1 million linked to smoking
• £568,764 linked to high blood pressure

These insights support broader public health goals, including more frequent blood pressure monitoring, earlier intervention and expanding preventative services to younger age groups.

Every person I’ve worked with from SISU Health has been hugely supportive of what we’re trying to do, incredibly flexible, very responsive and great to work with. It’s been a really fantastic experience for us.

 

Zoe Cross, Public Health Manager, Cambridgeshire County Council

Key takeaways

• Scalable reach: 17,000+ health checks delivered to date, with strong engagement from underserved groups
• Actionable insights: 500+ onward referrals and measurable reductions in key health risks
• Accessible care: Flexible, self-service model enabled checks outside GP hours
• Strategic value: Data-driven approach supports smarter public health decisions and identifies significant productivity cost savings

Cambridgeshire’s experience demonstrates how accessible, self-service health checks can reach underserved groups, deliver measurable health improvements and provide actionable insights for public health planning. By embedding prevention into workplaces and public venues, the council created a scalable model that improves outcomes, reduces inequalities, and mitigates economic costs.

See how prevention can reach underserved groups

If you’re looking to embed preventative health services in your community or organisation, our team can show you how SISU Health Stations deliver measurable insights, reach the right people and support data-driven health planning. Get in touch to discuss your local approach.

Talk To Our Team