NHS Health Checks

Healthwatch Norfolk was asked by Norfolk County Council Public Health team to gather the public’s opinion, uptake and experiences of NHS Health Checks in Norfolk. They undertook a survey to 393 people responded.

Most people welcomed having an NHS Health Check, with most people who have had an NHS Health Check (80%) saying they would have one again. Whilst there is a low uptake of NHS Health Checks amongst survey respondents, the most common barrier to accessing an NHS Health check was not being invited to one.

Women were more likely to attend an NHS Health check than men, with 48%  of women having an NHS Health Check in the last five years, compared to just 30% of men. There is also a slight variation in attendance of NHS Health Checks in the different areas of Norfolk. Half of respondents in Great Yarmouth and Waveney told us they have had an NHS Health Check in the last five years, compared to just 36% of respondents in West Norfolk.

Of respondents who had not had an NHS Health Check, there were a number of factors that people said would make them more likely to have one.  Two in five said that the location of the check would make them more likely to have one, with some people mentioning it would need to be somewhere local and convenient. Other factors included having information beforehand, the time of the check or knowing in advance person doing the health check.

Most people who have had an NHS Health Check in the last five years felt that the professional explained what they were testing for and their results clearly. There is also a lack of awareness amongst survey respondents of where they can access an NHS Health Check. Whilst most were aware they could access an NHS Health Check at their GP surgery, only a minority were aware that NHS Health Checks could also be accessed at pharmacies, or community venues (e.g. leisure centres or community centres).

Awareness of what NHS Health Checks aim to help prevent is not as good as it could be. Most people were aware that NHS Health Checks help to prevent heart disease (74%), diabetes (75%), and stroke (55%), but less than half were aware that they also aim to help prevent kidney disease and dementia. Some respondents thought NHS Health Checks help to prevent cancer, mental health problems or arthritis (even though these conditions are not tested for during the check). People who have not had an NHS Health Check also had less understanding of the purpose of NHS Health Checks.

There is also limited behaviour change following an NHS Health Check. When asked what difference the NHS Health Check had made, less than half of respondents (41%) had a better understanding of their health and many people said that the check made no difference (26%). Only some people changed their behaviour by eating more healthily, doing more exercise, reducing their alcohol intake, or stopping smoking.

 Many people are not receiving advice when they have their NHS Health Check. Around a third of people who have had an NHS Health Check were given no advice to lead a healthier lifestyle (34%). A quarter were given nutritional (diet) advice and only a minority were told to attend a particular class or were referred to an exercise scheme or health trainer. Overall, the findings of this report suggest that the NHS Health Check is not making as much difference to people’s risk of cardiovascular disease as it could be.

The report contains four recommendations about information provision, inviting people to attend the check and staff training.