Experience with our Future Health

[Riversideandrelax]

Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with them? And also wondering what training the clinicians have?

So for those that don't know Our Future Health is a research programme. For those taking part there is an online questionnaire and then an in person appointment where height/weight and waist circumference are measured as well as blood pressure, heart rate, a finger prick cholesterol test and a blood sample are taken.

I didn't find the clinician all that good which made me wonder what training they have. Maybe she was just having a bad day.

What do you mean by 'not all that good'?

The clinicians are just there to do the tests, record the data and tell you the results (if you want them to tell you). You are there as a research subject, not a patient. If they collected the data as they're supposed to, they've done their job - they're not there to deal with any health issues or give you bespoke advice.

The clinician I saw was actually incredibly jolly and chatty, but she didn't actually have to be any of those things to do her job correctly, really. It was nice that she was, but it certainly wasn't essential.

The ones I met were absolutely lovely, especially after I fainted 😳

Mine was fine and took my bloods competently and did the job to a good standard. Not especially chatty but I wasn’t there for a chat.

The chap I saw was both chatty and competent. And the screening picked up something, which I am now medicated for, so it was, by coincidence, very well-timed for me!

I wasn't expecting 'bespoke advice' 😂

Yes, she was very pleasant and chatty.

Well, the first thing was they have to check you're not unwell before starting the tests. She asked 'have you had a cough?' I answered I'd had one recently but been treated. She then says she can't do the tests and I should rebook. I explained I didn't have one now. She repeats. I asked to speak to her manager because I really didn't want to have my time wasted. Anyway on speaking to the manager she should have asked had I had new symptoms of a cough within the last 48 hours. Anyhow all sorted and on with the appointment.

She put the blood pressure cough on too loosely. She was not very competent at taking blood (she wasn't able to take my blood despite nice veins.) And she made a mistake on the paperwork.

Perhaps she was just a bit stressed after the bad start. Obviously I'm not saying I can judge her ability off one appointment. Hence asking for others' experiences.

Cuff not cough!!

Just me, then. Good to know!

I'm part of OFH and I wasn't hugely impressed.
As part of the process I had a finger prick cholesterol test which was 9.5 FFS
I was shocked because all other cholesterol tests I've ever had have been around 4.5.
The person who did the test assured me I didn't need to see my GP. Obviously I ignored that and went straight to my GP.
I had an IV blood test which came back as 4.8.
I contacted OFH to warn them of their potentially dodgy data but they weren't in the slightest bit interested.

Oh wow what a difference!

And I've just looked the paperwork clearly says if your cholesterol was over 7 (if under 30) or 9 (if over 30) you should see your GP. So they didn't even follow their own rules. But those thresholds seem very high anyway bearing in mind you cholesterol should be under 5!

I'm really wondering what kind of training they get if they aren't bothered about a cholesterol of 9.5.

I was tachycardic when tested and she ticked my heart rhythm was regular. She told me she was meant to 'test again' due to it being high but then at the end said she wouldn't as she'd 'pricked me so many times.' I actually felt quite sorry for her as I've never seen anyone make as much of a dogs dinner out of trying to take blood. She had piles of used gloves and cotton swabs! She didn't seem to have a clear idea of technique.

I'm taking part in this. The nurse who carried out my tests was perfectly pleasant and competent.

My fingerprick test showed that my triglycerides were extremely high (cholesterol and everything else good/normal). She told me to contact my GP. My GP has booked me in to redo the cholesterol panel of tests but said "I have seen some wildly inaccurate fingerpick results causing much anxiety".

We'll see what the tests show this time - I don't fit the profile for high triglycerides at all - I'm 50 but slim and eat a decent vegetarian diet, don't smoke, light drinker, reasonably active, no family history of high cholesterol or heart disease. The OFH nurse asked me if I'd just eaten a large fatty/sugary meal - I hadn't, standard breakfast 3 or so hours before.

These are my OFH fingerprick results:
Total cholesterol: 4.79
HDL: 1.99
Triglycerides: 7.2
LDL: 0.0

I hope that OFH isn't inadvertently creating more work for the NHS with inaccurate testing...

My experience was OK . Picked up a couple of bits and I'm booked in with the doctor in a few days for further tests. I found the lady I dealt with to me very pleasant, and gave me advice about follow ups. Glad I did it.

Just to update, GP re-ran the tests and everything has come back well within normal range! She said she's encountered lots of 'wildly inaccurate' results from Our Future Health - such a shame that this is putting extra pressure on GPs - I thought I was doing my bit to help!!

FOR INFO; It clearly states on the pro forma to inform your GP if total Cholesterol is over 9 if aged over 30 and 7.5 if under 30. This is the level set by the scientists. The NHS set level of 5 is for diagnostic and prescribing purpose. A level over 5 is not necessarily a problem unless the LDL and Triglyceride are also very elevated. The whole balances are looked at, so someone with a level of 9 or over may have a very high HDL (good) to balance that down, with low LDL and Trigs (bad) therefore not necessarily needing medicating. Everyone gets in a tiz about the total level when the breakdown between good and bad is relevant.
The Mission testing machines used by Our Future Health are accurate to within a point when checked weekly to calibrate. Cholesterol level can rise and fall with a change in food intake, so if you have attended just after eating lunch expect Trigs to be elevated. Most people attending venous blood tests are habitually fasting therefore the reading will be lower.
The staff are trained to repeat the info on the proformo and not give any medical advise.