Heart checks for poorest in Lothians

NEARLY 3000 of the Lothians' poorest people will be given a heart check by early next year, it has emerged.

As part of Scottish Government targets, local health chiefs will carry out cardiovascular tests on 2900 residents in the most deprived areas by next March. It is hoped the tests will help identify problems early and reduce health inequalities in areas such as Granton, Niddrie and Leith.

It is one of many health drives NHS Lothian will be looking at in poorer places, including encouraging more young mothers to breastfeed, urging people to stop smoking and carrying out tens of thousands of alcohol brief interventions.