The number of patients attending NHS Health Checks has risen by more than 50% since 2012, according to new figures released by NHS Digital.
Figures show that the number of patients attending a Health Check has increased over the last six years, with the 65-69 age bracket having the highest rate of attendance in 2017/18.
Over one million patients had a Health Check in 2017/18 and of those who attended, 54% were women and 46% were men.
The number of attendances by patients who identified as Black, African, Caribbean or Black British over the six-year period rose from 24,000 in 2012/13 to 46,000 in 2017/18.
Health check overhaul
In August, the health secretary Matt Hancock announced an overhaul of NHS ‘one-size-fits-all’ health checks in favour of more tailored check-ups to better prevent and predict diseases.
It followed a green paper released by the Department of Health in July which announced the Government’s plans to review NHS Health Checks in order to make them more tailored to individuals’ risks.
The plans also include reviewing the content of Health Checks and potentially increasing the range of health and care advice offered.
Public Health England and NHS England launched a new campaign earlier this year to get GPs carrying out more blood pressure checks in 40-74-year-olds. Patients were urged to attend their NHS Health Check as part of the campaign.
