Report: The NHS Health Check – increasing uptake to tackle health inequalities

The NHS Health Check is a national preventative programme offered every five years to people aged 40 to 74. 

It aims to identify early signs of conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease, and to provide advice and support to reduce future health risks.

While many who attend a Health Check find it useful and make positive changes to their health, uptake remains uneven. People most at risk - including men, younger adults and those in lower income communities - are less likely to attend. 

We set out to: 

• Understand why people from higher-risk and lower-income groups are less likely to attend an NHS Health Check.
• Explore the practical, cultural and motivational factors influencing decisions to attend or not attend.
• Identify what could make the Health Check more accessible, relevant and appealing to those groups.
• Provide evidence to support targeted action by Public Health, GP practices and partners.

Download our full report below.

Recommendations

To improve uptake, we recommend a stronger focus on awareness, communication and accessibility. This includes clearer, more informative invitations, using a mix of communication methods rather than relying on text messages alone, and tailoring messages to different groups.

Making it easier for people to attend by offering flexible appointment times, a range of booking options, and opportunities to combine the Health Check with other appointments. Outreach in community settings and workplaces could help reach those least likely to engage.

Continued focus on reducing inequalities by targeting groups who are less likely to attend, monitoring uptake across different communities, and involving local people in shaping future improvements.