Apnee Sehat: Tailoring lifestyle programmes to meet the needs of local people with a special interest in Britain’s South Asian community

is a social enterprise which is tailoring lifestyle programmes to meet the needs of local people with a special interest in Britain’s South Asian community

Who we are - and why are we different

Apnee Sehat (means ‘Our Health’) is a social enterprise which is tailoring lifestyle programmes to meet the needs of Britain's South Asian community and mainstream services

Apnee Sehat aims to raise awareness and screen for vascular disease risk, in order to reduce the risk of strokes, heart attacks and diabetes. This is achieved by encouraging preventative lifestyle changes through the provision of education, self-care and screening programmes. The organisation specialises in its approach to South Asian communities and its cultural needs.

The organisation is led, owned and managed by well respected, professorial clinicians, who have local, national and international recognition (see The Team page).

Apnee Sehat carries out a range of initiatives that deliver the following:

DELIVERING services for better health which are culturally sensitive, easily understandable and transferable, using a holistic approach around the patient and their family.

EDUCATING the community on health risk factors pertinent to their genetic predisposition and often lifestyle choices

SUPPORTING behavioural change and self help to improve health outcomes

IDENTIFYING cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes and informing their General Practitioner

Partnerships and care pathway re-design in the community

One of the success factors of Apnee Sehat is that we have tapped in on the ability of religious organisations to reach some of the most vulnerable groups i.e. undiagnosed diabetics who experience health inequalities.

The Apnee Sehat model aims to innovatively redesign patient care pathways, involving new partners for access such as pharmacists in the community as it will look to signpost high risk individuals identified to appropriate preventative intervention by a number of healthcare providers in the community setting.

Apnee Sehat aims to develop integrated healthcare models overcoming traditional barriers to specialist support for community services, whilst working closely with GP’s and consultants, making it a one stop shop for communities, via PBC and other opportunities.

Apnee Sehat is a leading example of how partnerships amongst communities, healthcare providers, academics, and the pharmaceutical industry can work together to effectively tackle health inequalities.

Apnee Sehat CIC's model can be incorporated and used for South Asian communities nationwide. If you are interested, please contact Apnee Sehat for further information.

How is Apnee Sehat different?

Apnee Sehat v Current Service

Apnee Sehat Service

Current Service

Community engagement, access and choice
Community Service – more accessible
Culturally sensitive
Care Plan and Health Passport in preferred language
Patient empowerment with better understanding of disease, lifestyle advice and risk
Patients better informed about their disease area
Improved self management
Evaluation of model delivery highlighting barriers and successes
Tailored to suit the South Asian lifestyle diet whilst aiming to reach out to all the family.
Evidence based risk strategy delivered
Led and delivered primarily by South Asian health care professionals
Less hospital Out-patient visits
23% risk reduction through multi-factorial intervention
Bringing together health care professionals in multi-disciplinary setting therefore closing skill gaps.
Contribute to the PCT’s reduction in vascular targets
Reduce health inequalities in line with Lord Darzi and offering a fair and personalised service to the patient.
Reduced CV risk, therefore the PCT saves money through reduced hospital admissions.
Apnee Sehat model can be an example of Best Practice for SHA and nationally.
Cost effective
Reducing hospital visits therefore enabling the PCT to meet the 18 week target

Hospital’s can be geographically far from community
Care is not in the community
More costly
Not always culturally sensitive
Lack of patient understanding
Potential language barriers
Not always tailored specifically to the South Asian lifestyle
Health inequalities
Standard models of care are not tailored to meet the needs of ethnic minority groups
High levels of poor attendance to appointments

Who we are