LGA responds to NHS Health Checks review

16 Aug 2019 01:45 PM

Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, responded to the launch of an evidence based review into NHS Health Checks by the Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock 

“Health checks can save lives and prevent people from developing life-threatening conditions. Councils have done a tremendous job in inviting more than 14 million eligible people to have a check over the last five years, of which 6.8 million have taken up the offer. By engaging people in early conversations about their health, councils have helped people improve their health and reduce the risk of developing serious but preventable conditions. We are keen to do more to improve uptake, especially amongst the most high risk groups.

“We are pleased this review proposes a move to more tailored health checks. However councils have seen cuts of £700 million to their public health funding over the last five years which has impacted on their ability to continue the good work they have been doing.

“This is why we want the Government to reverse these cuts in the upcoming Spending Round and invest in prevention to not only improve the health and quality of life of people but also reduce the burden on council services and the NHS."

Personalised health checks to be considered in new review