Door to Door Health Screening Warning

Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service and NHS Warwickshire are warning residents to be cautious if they are offered health screening services on the doorstep. Trading Standards Officers have received complaints about the activities of traders who are visiting consumers homes and using electronic devices which they claim can determine cardiovascular (or heart) health, blood pressure and the ‘biological age’ of the subject. Health professionals at the Arden Cluster (NHS Warwickshire and NHS Coventry) are concerned that people may be given inappropriate advice by door step traders who are not medically qualified. Trading Standards Officers believe that consumers may be pressured in to buying unnecessary health monitoring equipment or dietary supplements. NHS Warwickshire’s advice to people who have specific concerns about their cardiovascular health is to discuss the matter with their GP. Any one who is generally concerned about looking after their health is advised to stop smoking, maintain a healthy weight, keep physically active and eat a healthy balanced diet. 

• Door to door traders are not the most suitable people to turn to if you have health concerns
• No trained, professionally qualified medical person will cold call at your home
• If you are concerned about your health, you require appropriate medical advice and should speak to your GP, pharmacist, or call NHS Direct or Warwickshire Healthline
• To contact NHS Direct phone: 0845 46 47 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
• To contact Warwickshire Healthline phone: 03000 247 111
• The Citizens Advice consumer service provides free, confidential and impartial advice on consumer issues. Visit www.adviceguide.org.ukor call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 08454 04 05 06

For more information on all scams, visit our website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams

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• The email alert system is designed to work as a two way communications system. Therefore, if you have any information you wish to provide to Warwickshire Trading Standards Service, either for our information, or to appear in future email alerts, please email me.

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Simon CripwellSenior Information OfficerTrading Standards ServiceCommunitiesWarwickshire County Counciltel. 01926 414039mob. 07771 975570email. simoncripwell@warwickshire.gov.ukweb. www.warwickshire.gov.ukMy normal working days are Monday to Thursday