Rochdale borough residents take advantage of NHS health check

Photo: Northern Care Alliance NHS Group

Nurse and patient

People in Rochdale are more informed about their health than most of England, having been named one of the top 20 most proactive regions in the country in a new report by Medicspot.

The report compares regional NHS data on the utilisation of health checks, a free service offered by the NHS to everyone aged 40–74 to prevent premature death from heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and type 2 diabetes.

Locally, 61% of people who are eligible have claimed a free NHS health check in the last five years – the eighteenth-highest uptake in England.

61% of the 55,880 people who are eligible for an NHS health check in the borough of Rochdale had received one between 2014–2019. The national average for this same period is 43%.

Research has shown that free NHS checks reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study found that over a six-year period, participants of the health check programme had lost weight, lowered blood pressure and fewer were smokers.

Lead researcher, Samah Alageel said: “These results show the NHS health check programme carries a potential for reducing cardiovascular risk through the early assessment and management of risk.”

In other areas of the North West such as Manchester, only 56% of the eligible population received a free NHS health check.

Dr Johnson D’souza, Medical Director and GP at Medicspot, said: “It’s great to see that the majority of people in Rochdale are getting a health check, 18% higher than the national average.

“These checks help to spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and dementia. By checking your blood pressure, lifestyle, family history, height and weight, we can get an idea of your risk of getting certain illnesses including heart disease, stroke and diabetes.”

Despite being much higher than the national average, there are still 39% of eligible people in Rochdale who have not taken up the offer of a free health check in the past five years.

People in Rochdale who are aged 40–74 can get a free NHS health check at their GP surgery.

If you're in the 40-74 age group without a pre-existing condition, you can expect a letter from your GP inviting you for a FREE NHS Health Check. You would normally receive a letter from your GP inviting you for a health check every five years.