Computerised cardiac risk assessments are being offered by the Dorset pharmacy of Mr Roger King at Lytchett Matravers.
The service uses touch-screen computer equipment supplied by Hadley Healthcare, and software which has been screened by a consultant cardiologist and approved as a satisfactory diagnostic tool. Patients answer a series of questions about their lifestyles and receive a Framingham score for their 10-year risk of suffering a heart attack. Patients can then select aspects of lifestyle, such as exercise, to get recommended changes and an assessment of the reduction of risk that making those changes will achieve.
A second component of the service is a single blood test to reveal blood cholesterol, high-density lipid, triglyceride and glucose levels.
Mr King told The Journal on February 22 that his was the only pharmacy in Dorset offering the service at the moment, but that it was hoped to extend it to some of the other 10 pharmacies in the county that already had suitable touch-screen computer equipment.