PocDoc, the UK’s leading digital diagnostics company, has supported a community men’s health event at Ipswich Town Football Club at the invitation of Ipswich Town Foundation and NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board (NSICB).
NHS Health Check uptake across the East of England remains low, with just 33.7% of eligible people taking up a check over the past five years1, while cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to place a significant burden on health outcomes and local NHS services.
Held at Ipswich Town FC’s Portman Road stadium on 15 April, the “Talking Men’s Health” event brought together men aged 50 and over for an evening of education, awareness and on-the-spot health checks using PocDoc’s flagship Healthy Heart Check. Over 100 people attended the event, with more than 20 health checks handed out to male participants over 50 to be completed at home.
The Healthy Heart Check is a mobile phone-based, finger-prick test, that delivers a full cholesterol profile, BMI score, heart age and a ten-year cardiovascular risk assessment within minutes, with results integrated directly into the patient’s electronic health record (EPR) from any location.
The event featured appearances from Ipswich Town legends Simon Milton and George Burley, alongside leading clinicians, including Dr Peter Holloway and Dr Dean Dorsett, who provided practical advice on recognising symptoms, understanding treatment pathways, and reducing cancer risk.
By embedding accessible diagnostic tools within community-led programmes, PocDoc continues its mission to increase access to healthcare and shift the focus from reactive treatment to preventative care, directly supporting the Government’s 10-year Health Plan.
NHS research shows that every digital health check can save up to 20 minutes of GP time2, while early detection could prevent up to 80% of CVD cases – equivalent to an estimated 136,000 lives saved across the UK each year3.
Steve Roest, Co-Founder and CEO of PocDoc, said:
“There’s real power in bringing healthcare into community spaces like Portman Road. Through our partnership with Ipswich Town Foundation and NHS Norfolk & Suffolk ICB, we’ve delivered an event that not only raises awareness but actively breaks down barriers -helping men access vital CVD checks in a setting where they feel comfortable and supported.
“Initiatives like these leverage PocDoc’s technology to deliver rapid, community-based testing at scale, enabling earlier intervention and ultimately helping to save lives.”
“We’re delighted with the success of this event, with the response and attendance proof that men are more conscious of, and willing to talk about, their health,” said James Payne, Head of Community Engagement at Ipswich Town Foundation.
“The event is the first of its kind that the Foundation has delivered, and we’re grateful to Simon, George, Dr. Holloway and Dr. Dorsett, to NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board, and to all the local services who supported on the evening.”
Dr Dean Dorsett
Dr Peter Holloway