Workplaces are being offered free health checks to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Somerset Council's health practitioners have been conducting free Cardiovascular (CVD) Health Checks at various businesses across the region.

These checks, which take up to 30 minutes, involve a series of quick tests and questions covering personal and family medical history, lifestyle, and measurements of height, weight, and waist circumference.

Blood pressure and blood tests are also part of the process, screening for cholesterol and sugar levels.

These checks help identify risks for vascular diseases including strokes, diabetes, kidney disease, and heart disease.

Companies such as Bakkavor in Highbridge, Suez in Williton, and The Roberts Group in Bridgwater have already benefited from this initiative.

The health checks are conducted in a private room on-site and provide individuals with a risk result, indicating their current health status and the likelihood of experiencing a cardiovascular event within the next ten years.

Individuals can also ask the practitioner any questions during the appointment.

The checks are confidential, including the results and any conversations that occur during the appointment.

Somerset Council's health team manages all bookings.

Once a business has signed up for the initiative, Somerset Council takes care of the necessary administrative work, including providing details for the online booking system.

Businesses interested in offering these free health checks to their employees can email Somerset Council at nhshealthchecks@somserset.gov.uk.