A digital version of the NHS Health Check is to be made available through the NHS App.
NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) have announced the plan, saying the digital service will be ready for testing early next year.
Users will be able to carry out health checks on themselves at home, with the results being automatically written into the GP electronic health record.
Three local authorities have been selected the pilot the health checks: Norfolk County Council, Medway Council and the London Borough of Lambeth.
Plans are being put in place to make the service available nationally, and it is expected to deliver around one million checks in its first four years.
Increasing usage
The service is the latest to be added to the NHS App, which was recently reported to have more the 34 million registered users in England with an average 1.2 million per weekday. Earlier this year the addition of a new prescriptions feature encouraged a surge in usage.
The provision of the new digital service will be part of a wider expansion of the NHS Health Check. NHS England and DHSC have announced a programme in which a range of employers will make the checks available as part of a move towards community focused healthcare.
Over 16 million people are eligible for the checks but only around 40% of those invited went on to complete one.
Minister for Public Health Prevention Andrew Gwynne said: “We know so many deadly diseases can be avoided if we seek help in enough time. That’s why we’re working to improve access to treatment while also taking steps to address the preventable causes of cardiovascular disease.
“This innovative new programme is an important step towards community-focused healthcare and supporting economic and productivity through improving health, shifting the focus from treatment to prevention, easing the strain on the NHS and helping people to live well for longer.”
