PocDoc app rolled out in West Yorkshire to screen for CVD

Health tech startup PocDoc has partnered with the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership to roll out cardiovascular disease (CVD) health screenings to local communities.

The ‘Healthy Heart Check’, which went live in West Yorkshire on 6 January, uses PocDoc’s app-based technology to offer patients a cholesterol profile, body mass index score, heart age estimate, and a 10-year risk assessment for having a heart attack or stroke.

Using the app allows patients to obtain the results of screening tests within minutes, as well as accessing resources to help them understand the results and lifestyle advice on how to improve their heart health.

Emily Turner, CVD clinical lead at West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (West Yorkshire NHS Integrated Care Board), said: “By focusing on prevention, we can tackle this disease, but we must reach those most at risk. One of the main ways of doing this is improving access to digital solutions that are easy to use and convenient.

“This smartphone-based technology helps patients detect potential problems faster and earlier and is an excellent example of our commitment to using technology to improve patient outcomes and address health inequality in our community.”

The first screenings will be delivered at Get Set Goal at the University of Huddersfield, Healthy Heart Community Hubs in Wakefield and Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Pathfinder sites. Screenings will be offered to people who are identified as being at high risk of CVD and meet the eligibility criteria.

In West Yorkshire, almost 6% of the adult population has CVD, and over 115,000 people are at high risk of developing a heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years according to their QRISK score.

Pocdoc says that its Healthy Heart Check is proven to be successful in reaching ‘at risk’ groups, including black or south Asian people, those with severe mental illness or learning disabilities, people living in deprivation, men aged 40 to 59 and women aged 35 to 55.

Steve Roest, chief executive at PocDoc, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership to bring essential CVD health screenings to communities in West Yorkshire. Our patented technology is driving a step change in how we tackle chronic diseases.

“CVD presents a major threat to the health of millions of people, and many incidences can be prevented by earlier diagnosis. Yet many of those at risk don’t test early enough and suffer down the line as a result.

“This partnership underscores West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership’s commitment to closing this gap – ensuring that many of those who might previously have been unwilling or unable to access preventative testing can do so within their own communities, through using our Health Heart Check.”

In December 2024, PocDoc raised £5 million in a pre-series A funding round to help grow its platform, brings the total pre-A funding raised to more than £10m.