People in the West Midlands are among the first to join what is set to become the UK’s largest ever health research programme.
From Wednesday 19 October, people in central Birmingham will be able to attend appointments to join Our Future Health. People in Walsall will be able to attend from the end of October. Appointments will also be available in Boots stores in Dudley, Longbridge and Birmingham High Street.
Our Future Health aims to transform the prevention, detection and treatment of conditions such as dementia, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. With up to five million volunteers across the UK, the goal is to create one of the most detailed pictures ever of people’s health.
The programme is an ambitious collaboration between the public sector, charities and companies. Fourteen of the UK's leading health charities are affiliates of Our Future Health: Action Against Age-related Macular Degeneration, Alzheimer’s Society, Asthma + Lung UK, Blood Cancer UK, Breast Cancer Now, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Diabetes UK, Kidney Research UK, Pancreatic Cancer UK, Parkinson’s UK, Prostate Cancer UK, Royal Osteoporosis Society and Stroke Association.
Men and women in Birmingham and the Black Country have a much lower healthy life expectancy than the rest of the UK. Deaths due to cardiovascular disease and smoking are also much higher than the rest of the UK, while the Black Country and Birmingham report a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, chronic heart disease, lung disease, cancers, respiratory illnesses, depression, dementia and infant death.
Birmingham and the Black Country also has higher than average populations of people who traditionally experience poorer access, experience and outcomes, notably ethnic minority communities, people with serious mental illness, people with a learning disability, people with two or more long term conditions, and those with a drug or alcohol dependency.
Dr Ananta Dave, Chief Medical Officer for Black Country ICB, said: “The Our Future Health programme has huge potential for helping address the many health inequalities faced by people and communities in the Black Country and Birmingham. Having a much clearer picture of people’s health will support new lifechanging research that will help people live healthier, happier lives. We are pleased that Black Country and Birmingham people are among the first to be invited to volunteer for this nationally important project.”
In collaboration with NHS DigiTrials, letters are being sent to people over 18 living in Birmingham and Walsall giving them the option to take part. Volunteers will give their consent to join the research programme and provide secure access to their health records, complete a questionnaire and book an appointment.
At their appointment, volunteers will have a blood sample taken, plus some physical measurements. They will also be offered information about their own health, including their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. In the future people who join the programme will be given the option to receive feedback about their risk of diseases and also the opportunity to take part in cutting-edge research studies.
Peter Leadbetter, 69, was one of the first to join Our Future Health. He said: “I decided to join Our Future Health for a few reasons. At heart, it’s a chance for me to give a bit back to the NHS. Joining Our Future Health is a concrete way we can actually help the NHS. It’s nice knowing my grandchildren’s generation will benefit in some way.”
Dr Andrew Roddam, CEO of Our Future Health, said: “We’re delighted that people in the West Midlands can now join Our Future Health. They have an opportunity to be part of something that could transform healthcare in the UK and we are so grateful for their support. Detecting and treating diseases early is a big challenge facing our country now and into the future – and people in the West Midlands can be part of the answer.”
To sign up, members of the public can visit the Our Future Health website.
If appointments aren’t yet available in an individual’s local area, people can sign up to the newsletter to be notified when the programme will be arriving in their area.
