We have consulted with hairdressers, beauty therapists, clients, and community stakeholders to design this project and to figure out a plan that can work, including what kind of messages would be most culturally appealing and how online tools (Apps) could be made easier to use. We are working with hairdressing salons, beauty salons and GP Practices in London. We are training hairdressers and beauty therapists to start health conversation with their clients and encourage them to use available health services and resources. The hairdressers and beauty therapists will have help from nurses and health care assistants from local GP Practices. We will collect data on how many hair and beauty salons we can recruit, how many clients use the online App, how many people attend their doctor’s appointments, and how many people continue to use the online App in the long term. We will also ask clients, hairdressers, beauty therapists, nurses and other staff at the GP Practices about their experiences.

About 1 in 10 women have breast cancer or heart diseases during their lifetime. Community salons in America have been successful in spreading messages about breast cancer awareness and heart diseases prevention, but there is not as much research on this in the UK. We want to see if community salons can help people to get checked and diagnosed.

We will publicise the results through community online forums, and jointly produced audio-visual and written materials for hair and beauty salons, communities and health professionals. If this project is successful, we will use the data to design a larger project to see if this approach is effective and whether it is a good value for money.

The higher risk we see in South Asian and Black groups isn't fully understood, but it seems to be linked to a mix of factors. These include genetics, how their bodies work, the foods they eat, how much they exercise, if they smoke, where they live, and how they access and experience healthcare services. Sources: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/cvd-risk-assessment-management/background-information/risk-factors-for-cvd/ https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/health-wellbeing-and-sports/public-health-bucks/director-of-public-health-annual-report-2022-preventing-heart-disease-and-stroke-in-buckinghamshire/32-differences-between-ethnic-groups/ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-report-of-the-commission-on-race-and-ethnic-disparities-supporting-research/ethnic-disparities-in-the-major-causes-of-mortality-and-their-risk-factors-by-dr-raghib-ali-et-al https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/south-asian-background https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/african-caribbean-background-and-heart-health

The NHS Health Check is offered as a face-to-face appointment with a nurse or healthcare assistant at your GP surgery. It usually takes about 30 minutes. You will then receive personalised advice to reduce your risk of heart diseases. Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/what-is-an-nhs-health-check/

You will have your risk of getting a heart and circulation disease calculated and explained to you. Your NHS Health Check can detect potential health problems before they do real damage. At your NHS Health Check you will be given advice on how to reduce your risk of getting heart and circulation diseases. Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/what-is-an-nhs-health-check/

You should be invited to an NHS Health Check by your GP practice (via letter, text message or phone call). If you think you are eligible but have not been invited, you can contact your GP practice to book an appointment. Waiting times are variable and depend on GP practices capacity but on average, appointments should be available within two to four weeks of the patient making contact with the practice. Sources: https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/how-long-are-patients-waiting-for-a-gp-appointment-in-england https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gp-practice-data-available-for-first-time

You'll usually have your NHS Health Check at a GP surgery or local pharmacy, but it could happen at mobile units, in workplaces, local libraries or leisure centres. Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/what-is-an-nhs-health-check/

The NHS Health Check is a free check-up of your overall health. It will tell if you're at higher risk of getting certain health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or heart and circulation diseases. Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/what-is-an-nhs-health-check/

If you're between 40 and 74 years of age and do not already have a pre-existing condition, you'll be invited for a free NHS Health Check every 5 years. If you're registered with a GP surgery, you should automatically get an invitation. If you are eligible but have not had an NHS Health Check in the last 5 years, ask at your GP surgery for an appointment. Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/what-is-an-nhs-health-check/

The check is for people who are aged 40 to 74 who do not have a pre-existing health condition. Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/what-is-an-nhs-health-check/