A truly innovative project, which makes use of a creative partnership approach to significantly improve access to and uptake of the NHS Health Check, by offering it alongside free pet health checks. The project is highly replicable and has proven success in engaging with its target audience, in an area experiencing high levels of health inequalities.

The assessors

We are delighted that our innovative approach to increasing uptake of NHS Health Checks through engaging with dog owners has been shortlisted for an RSPH Health and Wellbeing Award.
Our two organisations are each striving to improve health and wellbeing, for pets and people, in socially disadvantaged communities. By collaborating, both with each other and the Salford Dog Warden Service, we have been able to motivate dog owners to attend a PDSA PetCheck for their dog and, while there, access an NHS Health Check that they wouldn’t have done otherwise. 

While improving pet wellbeing, our partnership has leveraged people’s interest in their dog’s wellbeing to engage them in their own health. Our shortlisting gives recognition to the One Health concept – linking the health and wellbeing of people, animals and our shared environment – and the way that novel One Health partnerships can realise real health and wellbeing benefits in communities.”

Debbie Cordingley, Health Improvement Officer, East Salford Health Improvement Team and Sean Wensley FRCVS, Senior Veterinary Surgeon, PDSA