A digital NHS Health Check is to be rolled out across England from next spring, the government has announced, in an attempt to alleviate the pressure on GP surgeries.
The initiative will deliver 1m checks in the first four years, according to the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Tens of thousands of cases of hypertension are expected to be identified and hundreds of strokes and heart attacks prevented. Patients will be able to access the check via a mobile phone, tablet or computer, the DHSC said.
Participants will complete an online questionnaire, enter height, weight, and the results of a cholesterol test which they can carry out at home. They will also be asked to have their blood pressure checked at a pharmacy.
The results, which will be available online, will direct people to personalised advice. Referrals to GPs will only be made if further tests and treatment are needed.
The health secretary, Steve Barclay, said: “Thousands of heart attacks and strokes could be prevented every year through simple health checks, which would save lives and ease pressure on the NHS.
“This new digital check-up will mean people can do simple tests and get tailored advice from homes while reducing pressure on GP services.” It is estimated that each digital check could save 20 minutes of NHS time.
Cardiovascular disease is the second biggest killer in England and affects around 6.4 million people. According to the government, the new digital check will help to identify 200,000 people who could benefit from the use of statins, 30,000 cases of hypertension – persistently high blood pressure – and prevent around 400 heart attacks and strokes over the first four years.
Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This initiative will help to reach more people and encourage them to get their blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked so that, where necessary, healthcare professionals can work with them to manage their condition.
“This could play an important role in helping people live healthier for longer and saving lives in the coming years, while reducing pressure on the NHS.”
The current NHS Health Check is currently a face-to-face check-up for adults in England aged 40 to 74. Commissioned by local authorities and largely delivered through GP surgeries, it can help spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and dementia.
