NHS health checks are being rolled out to more than 130,000 people at workplaces across the country starting today while a new digital version is expected to be ready for testing early in 2025.
The Department of Health and Social Care said the in-person checks should help people to be better protected from diseases such as heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes.
It also said the checks may help free-up NHS appointments and help cut waiting lists.
Employers from a range of professions will take part in the programme including those from the building, hospitality and transport sectors, and social care.
The checks, which are designed to be completed quickly and easily for employees at work, record a range of information about each patient, which is then used to determine their cardiovascular risk.
The department said: “Today’s announcement is part of the health and social care secretary’s commitment to supporting the government’s mission to boost economic growth by improving the health of the nation.
“With every check providing the equivalent of an NHS appointment, these checks will save thousands of hours of valuable NHS time, helping to cut waiting lists and rebuild the NHS.”
More than 16 million people are eligible for an NHS Health Check, but current data shows that only around 40% of those invited went on to complete one.
This is especially true for men, who are less likely to get early help but who are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease at an earlier age than women.
The department said: “This new programme aims to reach more people through their place of work and make it more convenient for people to understand and improve their cardiovascular health.”
The NHS Health Check
An NHS Health Check takes about 20 to 30 minutes and usually includes:
- measuring height and weight
- measuring waist
- a blood pressure test
- a cholesterol test, and possibly a blood sugar level test.
Participants are also asked questions about their health including:
- whether any close relatives have had any medical conditions
- if they smoke, and how much
- if they drink alcohol, and how much
- how much physical activity they do.
Age, gender and ethnicity are also be recorded.
Digital version
The Department of Health and Social Care announced the development of the new digital version of the NHS Health Check which will be ready for testing early in 2025.
The digital programme will deliver around one million checks in its first four years, it estimated.
The service will be available through the NHS App, meaning users can undertake their health check at home and have the results automatically written back into their GP electronic health record, within a few clicks.
Local authorities in Norfolk (East of England), Medway (South East) and Lambeth (London) have been selected to pilot the new digital health checks in early 2025.
Plans are being put in place to make digital NHS Health Checks available nationally, alongside the face-to-face programme to give patients more choice.
Spotting risks early
NHS national clinical director for stroke David Hargroves said: “Convenient and efficient NHS checks in the workplace could spot thousands of people at risk of a range of cardiovascular diseases, and with high blood pressure the biggest risk factor for stroke, early detection will undoubtedly save lives.
“This new programme shows the NHS is committed to preventing ill health and I would urge anyone invited for a check to come forward and get support to improve their cardiovascular health.”
Andrew Gwynne, minister for public health and prevention, said: “We know so many deadly diseases can be avoided if we seek help in enough time.
“That’s why we’re working to improve access to treatment while also taking steps to address the preventable causes of cardiovascular disease.
“This innovative new programme is an important step towards community-focused healthcare and supporting economic and productivity through improving health, shifting the focus from treatment to prevention, easing the strain on the NHS and helping people to live well for longer.“