Cholesterol is a type of fat (also called lipid) and travels through the body via the blood stream. Some cholesterol comes from the food we eat, but most is made in the liver through a complex process. You need cholesterol in your blood to stay healthy. When it gets too high, it becomes a problem. High cholesterol can lead to health problems in the future. The only way to know your cholesterol level is to get a test.
Read more about cholesterol via HEARTUK – The cholesterol Charity.
We are working collaboratively with healthcare professionals to reduce cardiovascular risk by improving lipid management and the diagnosis and treatment of Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) through the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Programme. The focus of our lipids and FH work includes:
- Raising awareness of the importance of lipid optimisation.
- Supporting education and upskilling local healthcare professionals, including awareness of resources, including clinical pathways and guidance.
- Supporting effective population health management approaches.
- Ensuring equitable access to novel therapies.
Current Programmes
Lancashire and South-Cumbria Education Programme
Cardiovascular Education Programme supported by Health Innovation North West Coast and AstraZeneca, as part of the delivery of local programmes.
Aim: To provide a full schedule of education across CVD Prevention via a variety of delivery methods.
Cheshire and Merseyside Lipid Education Programme
We are supporting NHS Cheshire and Merseyside with their Lipid Education Programme as part of the delivery of local programmes.
Aim: To provide a full schedule of education and tools around lipids, via a variety of delivery methods, to support health care professionals across the system.
Polygenic familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) & Lipoprotein (a)
Under our remit to support the adoption and spread of innovation, the CVD team are working with HI NENC, NHS England (CVD Prevention team) and NHS Genomics Service to understand different models of service provision for genetic testing.
Aim: To explore ways in which innovations such as GENinCode can be implemented into diagnostic pathways to replicate the efficiencies seen as part of the HI NENC pilot.
Find out more about polygenic FH and lipoprotein (a)
Resources for clinicians
Mastering cholesterol to optimise CVD prevention webinar series
The Mastering cholesterol webinar series was aimed at healthcare professionals working in primary, secondary and tertiary care. The series provided attendees with the confidence, knowledge, and skills to navigate a comprehensive, holistic approach to treating patients with high cholesterol across all age groups.
Cheshire and Merseyside Lifespan Pathway for Lipid Management
More than just a treatment decision aid, this lifespan pathway for lipid management frames the problem in the context of the patient’s age, co-morbidities, and disability, to enable the reader to take a holistic approach to diagnosis and management of lipids.
UCLpartners Proactive Care Framework: Cholesterol
UCLpartners have developed a series of proactive care frameworks to restore routine care by prioritising patients at highest risk of deterioration, with pathways that mobilise the wider workforce and digital/tech, to optimise remote care and self-care, releasing clinician capacity and helping manage workload in practices.
Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) 2025/26
Find out details on how to shift focus to CVD Prevention.
Previous programmes
Cheshire and Merseyside Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) Service
Health Innovation North West Coast has supported the setting up of the commissioned FH Service in Cheshire and Merseyside (C&M). The C&M FH service has been in operation since September 2022.
Aim: To provide a referral pathway for regional teams to identify possible FH through genetic testing and cascade testing for first degree relatives if FH is diagnosed .
Child Parent Screening Service (CPSS) pilot for early detection of FH
Health Innovation North West Coast was one of seven HINs taking part in this national screening pilot to identify families at risk of inherited heart disease.
Aim: Improve the identification of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH)
Tackling Cholesterol Together – education programme
Health Innovation North West Coast is part of a collaboration led by the NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC), the HIN Network and cholesterol charity, HEART UK.
Aim: To deliver an education programme for healthcare professionals around cholesterol.