The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced a new digital NHS health check service to identify cases of cardiovascular disease.
It said the service will be available from spring of next year alongside the existing NHS health check available through GPs and should provide for one million checks over four years.
But the announcement has prompted a warning from the Local Government Association (LGA) should not be regarded as a replacement for physical checks.
The national roll out will build on results from a trial in Cornwall that began late last year.
Patients will be able to access the digital check through a mobile phone, tablet or computer, complete an online questionnaire, and enter details of their height, weight and a blood test carried out using a kit that can be sent to their homes – along with results of blood pressure test that can be done at community locations such as a local pharmacy or in a GP's waiting room.
They will be able to see the results online and receive personalised advice to reduce any identified risks. Referrals to GPs will be made if further tests are needed.
Prevention factor
Health and Social Care 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.
“This programme is the latest example of how we are using technology to cut waiting times, one of the government’s five priorities, improve diagnosis and treatment.”
DHSC said the digital check will help to identify 200,000 people who could benefit from the use of statins, 30,000 cases of persistently high blood and prevent around 400 heart attacks and strokes over the first four years.
Each check could also save an estimated 20 minutes of NHS time, cumulatively freeing up appointments in primary care and helping to bring down waiting lists.
Local authority role
In response, the LGA highlighted the fact that local authorities plan an active role in encouraging people to have health checks, with nearly 11 million of 23.5 million invited over the past 10 years having taken up the invitation.
But the vice chair of its community wellbeing board, Cllr David Baines, commented: “Free Health Checks, commissioned by councils as part of their public health responsibilities, help relieve pressures on our NHS and care system, save lives and prevent people from developing life-threatening conditions.
“Making more digital health checks available is a useful tool to detect certain illnesses but it should be treated as an addition to not a replacement of a physical health check, which is still the best way to provide early detection of ill health.
A DHSC spokesperson said that learnings from the work will be available for other programmes.
Update: DHSC has published a prior information notice for technology suppliers of technology, saying it plans an engagement event for 4 July and wishes to understand the market for potential solutions to support the checks.
