A CAMPAIGN which saved thousands of lives in Bolton is being relaunched today.

NHS Health Check aims encourage local people to get themselves assessed to find out if they are at risk of preventable health problems.

The major campaign, backed by The Bolton News, has been launched by NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

It follows the success of the Big Bolton Health Check in 2008, led by The Bolton News, which encourage 73,000 Bolton people to take part.

Dr Stephen Liversedge, Clinical Director for Primary Care and Health Improvement at the CCG, said: "Back then in Bolton we lived, on average, 2.3 years less than the English average and within the borough, when comparing most to less affluent areas, there was a 15 year gap in life expectancy. The gap was almost exclusively in heart disease and diabetes.

"Following the Big Bolton Health Check, the number of emergency admissions due to heart attacks halved.

“The simple fact is that health checks work.”

After the campaign that gap was reduced to 11 years in the borough and a year and a half gap with the rest of England.

But there is still a concern about the prevalence of heart disease and diabetes in the borough.

And Dr Liversedge says the time has come to push again to urge people to get a check which could save their life.

"We have come to rest on a laurels though and it's important that we keep pushing the message as people get older and their risks increase.

"We are refreshing the whole campaign with Bolton as a leading campaigner on health issues."

The NHS Health Check is aimed at Bolton people aged 40-74, who do not have existing heart disease or diabetes, and is urging them to make sure they have a NHS Health Check every five years.

This quick, straightforward check-up includes some questions about lifestyle and family medical history, along with routine tests, including blood pressure and cholesterol.

As well as a breakdown of their results, each patient gets an overall score indicating their risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke.

The aim is to identify people before they have heart disease or diabetes – those who at higher risk.

Dr Liversedge was keen to stress that once someone who scores a higher risk has been identified, small changes to lifestyle or diet can dramatically reduce that score and extend their life span.

From today, radio adverts featuring comedian Dave Spikey encouraging Bolton people to go for their health check, will be broadcast across the borough on Bolton FM and Key 103.

The campaign will also see life size cutouts of Dave appearing in GP practices all over Bolton.

They highlight the importance of the health risk score. Dave’s sign has the message: “I know my risk – do you know yours?”

Dr Liversedge said: "Bolton has an excellent track record on health checks, but there is still more to do if we are to improve the health of our borough.

Despite some improvement in recent years, life expectancy in Bolton remains lower than the England average and too many of our residents die prematurely from conditions that could have been prevented.

"We have got all our practices on the case. Everyone watches what Bolton does and if Bolton can do it, anyone can do it.

"I encourage anyone aged 40-74 to speak to their GP practice if they have not had a health check in the last five years."

It is hoped the campaign will overcome some of the most common health myths.

Dr Liversedge says people won't be judged for their answers about diet and lifetsyle and, no matter the risk, little changes can help make a big positive difference to your life.

He said: “Just by getting people to look at how much sugar they are eating and cutting some out, or not drinking quite as much, or walking a bit further every week and doing slightly more exercise can make an enormous difference. It is important that people understand that there is definitely things they can do to reduce their risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.”

Phoenix Nights Star Dave, who used to work in the haematology department at the Royal Bolton Hospital, added: "This is a really big message for Bolton.

“I’ve worked in the NHS in Bolton, so I know as well as anyone that health is a problem here.

“That’s why I wanted to get involved and remind people to take care of themselves now - before they get ill. Prevention really is better than cure.

"You might think you’re doing all right and don’t need a health check.

“Well that’s great, but you could be at risk of health problems and not even know. If you find out early then that means you can do something about it. So, give your GP a bell today."

Bolton people can look out for the campaign over the coming months in GP practices, on the radio, and in the media.

They can get involved on social media by following @BoltonCCG and liking ‘NHS Bolton CCG’ on Facebook, using #MyRisk.