In the latest quarter (2024/25 Q2), the NHS offered an all-time high 973,846 health checks to those aged 40-74 to step up its preventative health programme. Just 347,837 – or 36% – went on to take up the invite through the quarter with 626,009 not taking advantage of the free check-up of general health.
 
NHS Health Checks should be offered by a GP or local council every 5 years to those aged 40-74 with no pre-existing health conditions to help identify those at risk of suffering serious health conditions such as heart disease or stroke.
 
The data continues a clear post-pandemic trend of Health Check invitations rapidly bouncing back and then exceeding pre-pandemic levels, while the numbers actually attending have remained broadly flat. For example, five years ago in 2019/20 Q2, 742,000 invitations were issued, with 43% uptake resulting in 322,000 Health Checks. In 2024/25 Q2 a record 974,000 invitations were issued – an increase of 31% – but reduced uptake of 36% meant only 348,000 Health Checks were carried out.
 
Emily Jones, Client Consulting Director at Broadstone, said, “NHS Health Checks remain a vital first line of defence against chronic illnesses and so it is disappointing to see that uptake levels have reduced recently despite increasing efforts to invite more people.
 
“By catching more serious conditions early on, people can make lifestyle adjustments that may avoid or delay the onset of some of these conditions or reduce their seriousness. Declining uptake could be down to time constraints, challenges in contacting or accessing the local GP practice, anxieties around what may be identified or simply a lack of awareness about the long-term health benefits of attendance.”