The SiSU Mobile Digital Health Checks pilot programme was commissioned by Essex County Council Public Health in partnership with SiSU Health, Essex Wellbeing Service and delivered by Provide CIC. The pilot launched in March 2025 in Basildon and Brentwood districts then expanded to all Essex County Council districts during the summer of 2025. The programme aimed to improve uptake of preventative health checks among working-age adults, particularly routine and manual workers, who face barriers to traditional NHS Health Checks. Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of preventable ill health and premature mortality. Uptake of NHS Health Checks is suboptimal, particularly among men and younger adults. The pilot tested a workplace-based digital model to improve accessibility, engagement, and early identification of risk.
Key Metrics & Highlights
Total Health Checks Delivered 1,654
Individuals Engaged 1,420
Male Engagement 55%
Users Under 40 30%
Checks Outside GP Hours 23.3%
Overweight / Obese 69.9%
High Blood Pressure 19.3%
Highest Smoking Prevalence average 34%
Lifestyle Changes Reported 68%
Diet Improvement 54.5%
Increased Physical Activity 41%
Primary Care Follow-Up Prompted ~10%
Estimated Productivity Loss Prevented £2.1M annually
Read the Evaluation Pilot here
New for 2026
On 6th March 2026, we took delivery of our second Mini Digital Health Check station, enabling us to support more employers and attend events to raise awareness of risk factors i.e. high blood pressure, high BMI, cardiovascular risk and stress and supporting employees to access healthcare.
Our new Mini unit is already out and about across Essex.
What is a health check?
Every 5 years from the age of 40, every adult in the UK is offered a free face to face health check from their GP. Only bout 1/2 of those contacted attend the check (38% men, 58% women). Some simply forget, some are too busy to take time off from work, others are worried about being “told off” about being overweight or smoking, so avoid the check.
Every day in the UK, people who do not attend their NHS Health Checks become unwell with heart attacks, strokes and other avoidable conditions. Adults, too young to qualify for an NHS Health Check also become unwell with preventable conditions.
To combat this, the SiSU Digital Health Check programme will:
- Identify and support those who would not normally access Health Improvement services to improve their health.
- Provide services for early intervention and prevention to reach a larger section of the population.
- Help people to live healthy lifestyles by reducing prevalence of the leading risk factors that contribute to ill health and premature mortality, including high systolic blood pressure, high body mass index, and smoking.
- Give employers the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of their employees.
- Provide direct referral and support from Essex Wellbeing Service
Following the digital health check, users receive their results straight away and those identified as high risk can access services from Essex Working Well, Essex Wellbeing Service, their local GP, or community pharmacy.
All users receive personal health results and feedback while completing their check and have access to a free App containing their results.
Key Outcomes so far:
- 4,000+ + health checks completed across 50+ businesses
- 90% of users gave the service 7 or more out of 10
- 113 referrals for Stop Smoking Support
- 713 referrals for My Weight Matters
- 850 participants opted to share their health data with Essex Working Well for ongoing support
- Detailed anonymous employer report and analysis, including the loss in productivity due to: High BP, overweight and obesity and smoking prevalence.
Check out our LinkedIn page where we share news of all customer installations and more.
Cost to productivity of increased health risk factors (March 25 – May 26)
Want to host the SiSU unit in your workplace?
We have three units, a Maxi and 2 Mini (portable), here’s the booking criteria:
Maxi unit placement requirements:
- Business size: at least 150 employees
- Height requirements: Unit is 2.4m in height, so requires a ceiling height of 2.5m
- Positioning requirements: the Maxi can only be installed on the ground floor or a business, unless there is a suitable lift
- Installation duration: 2-4 weeks (dependent on employee numbers)
- Delivery information: Friday delivery via a SiSU technician with Working Well staff member attending to support the business
Mini Unit placement requirements:
- Business size: At least 40 employees or more on a single site or training day, with at least 40 staff attending
- Positioning requirements: Unit can be placed in any indoor space and requires a table, chair plus mobile phone signal and power socket
- Installation duration: 1 day – 2 weeks (dependent on employee numbers)
- Delivery Information: Flexible delivery days – Working Well staff member installs the units and provides support for 1-2 hours on the install day. (Staff member stays to support for the full day on an Event day).
What tests does the unit complete?
- BMI – Body Mass Index
- Blood pressure
- Heart Rate
- Smoking rate
- Body Composition
- Stroke Risk Test (QRISK 3)
- Stress Test (PSS4)
Employee support available
- Results emailed instantly via the SiSU Health App
- Blood pressure protocol in place
- Personal results are not shared with workplace
- Support via Essex Working Well for Stop Smoking Support
- Weight loss support via the Amara App and My Weight Matters (Essex Wellbeing Service)
- Mental Health signposting available
If you would like to discuss hosting the SiSU unit in your workplace email us today – essex.workingwell@nhs.net
Published: 27 June 2025
