From Wednesday 19 October, people in Birmingham will be able to attend appointments to join Our Future Health.

Our Future Health aims to transform the prevention, detection and treatment of conditions such as dementia, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. With up to five million volunteers right across the UK, the goal is to create one of the most detailed pictures ever of people’s health.

Volunteers will give their consent to join the research programme and agree to provide secure access to their health records through a secure system, complete a questionnaire and book an appointment. At their appointment, volunteers will have a blood sample taken, plus some physical measurements. They will also be offered information about their own health, including their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. In the future people who join the programme will be given the option to receive feedback about their risk of diseases and also the opportunity to take part in cutting-edge research studies.

Peter Leadbetter, age 69 from Moseley, Birmingham, was one of the first in the region to join Our Future Health. He said: “I decided to join Our Future Health for a few reasons. At heart, it’s a chance for me to give a bit back to the NHS. Joining Our Future Health is a concrete way we can actually help the NHS. It’s nice knowing my grandchildren’s generation will benefit in some way.”

To sign up, people can visit the Our Future Health website.

Our Future Health opens at Mailbox daily from 9am – 7pm.