Digital health kiosks as a tool to improve access to preventative health checks in the community: A service evaluation
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Authors
Rosalind Vince
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Issue Date
06-May-26
Type
Conference Abstract
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Keywords
Rapid evaluation
Alternative Title
Abstract
Introduction
The SiSU Health Station is a medical device that provides a free, five minute, self service health check measuring BMI, blood pressure, heart rate, smoking status, alcohol risk and perceived stress. Initially commissioned to provide access to blood pressure monitors alongside the NHS online health check, Southwark Council has funded these health kiosks since 2021. Between 2024 and 2025, we conducted in-house service evaluations of two health kiosk programmes: one long-term community-based programme and one pilot in workplaces, the latter as part of the DHSC Workplace Cardiovascular Disease Checks Pilot.
Methods
The evaluations examined whether kiosks improve access to preventative health checks and increase knowledge of key health measurements among groups experiencing health inequalities and those less likely to engage with the NHS Health Check programme. Mixed-methods approaches were used, combining Theory of Change frameworks, quantitative health data and feedback from service users. For the workplace pilot, we additionally evaluated qualitative insights from employers and process data to analyse the feasibility of the approach.
Results and implications
Between July 2021 and May 2024, over 16,900 people used the community-based kiosks, with good reach to the programme's target groups. 51% of health checks were conducted by people with a male sex recorded at birth, 60.6% of users were from a Black, Asian or minoritised ethnic group, and 28% of users living in the two most deprived IMD deciles. Users report increased knowledge of health status and positive behaviour change following kiosk use, although sample bias could influence these results. Health measurements indicate some health improvements amongst repeat users, with 18.8% of repeat users initially recording a high-risk blood pressure rating since recording a lower risk score.
In workplaces, the pilot was again successful in reaching men, who accounted for 53% of all checks delivered. Compressed timelines impacted the ability to scale the programme, and uptake among people working in priority occupations, such as routine and manual workers, was limited. However, the pilot highlighted strong interest from employers in workplace health initiatives and provided learning for future work in this area.