Workplace health checks introduced in England to target preventable diseases

More than 130,000 people across England will benefit from workplace health checks being trialled to help protect people from preventable diseases, the government has said.

The checkups, which will begin on 30 August and can be completed by employees at their workplace, involve recording a range of information via a questionnaire for each patient. The answers are used to determine their risk for various cardiovascular conditions, and will be considered the equivalent of an NHS appointment.

They will initially be available in industries including the building, hospitality and transport sectors, while digital health checks at home will be piloted in the local authorities of Norfolk, Medway and Lambeth.

Andrew Gwynne, the 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 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.”

More than 16 million people are eligible for an NHS health check, but data shows that only about 40% of those invited complete one. This is especially true for men, who are less likely to get early help but more likely to develop cardiovascular disease at an earlier age than women.

The new programme aims to reach more people through their place of work and make it more convenient for them to understand and improve their cardiovascular health.

David Hargroves, the NHS national clinical director for stroke, said: “Health checks can save lives. They can prevent people from developing largely preventable diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes and liver disease.

“Councils are exploring new ways to boost uptake, targeting individuals or communities at increased risk, and using proactive outreach programmes to get into those communities who are less likely to attend their general practice.

“However, there is more that can be done and, by partnering councils and employers, we can make sure more people get a health check and hopefully prevent illness later on.”

It is estimated the digital initiative will provide 1 million checks in its first four years, and plans are under way to make it a national service alongside face-to-face checks.