PEOPLE aged over 40 are urged to attend a health MOT with their doctor as it emerged few in York are taking up the offer.

York falls well below the national average of take up for an NHS health check, which is offered every five years to adults in England aged from 40 to 74-years-old to get a clear picture of their health.

In York, less than half of all people offered a check up by letter received one - just 6.5 per cent of those eligible, or 3,649 out of 55,311.

Following the check-up, patients are then given help, if needed, to reduce their risk of heart disease, kidney disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes.

Cllr Linsay Cunningham, City of York Council’s cabinet member for health and community engagement, said: “The council knows that the main contributing factor for York performing below the national average is because not all GP practices offer health checks and currently we don’t have an alternative option for eligible patients.

"We are working with the Clinical Commissioning Group to better understand why some GP practices don’t offer the health checks and are attempting to find a solution to enable more patients to receive their health check which will ultimately improve the health and wellbeing of York’s residents.

“If you are offered an NHS health check I would urge you to take up the offer. By screening for signs of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease, NHS health check can help us reduce the number of premature deaths, so we need to be doing everything we can to ensure residents access their NHS health check across the city.”

The council said it is also looking to local authorities which are reporting a higher take up of health checks.

Some have been creative in the venues for the delivery of health checks, including making them available in vans and buses in supermarket car parks, busy shopping areas, in health centres, at summer fairs and in local pharmacies.

Eligible adults should receive a health check every five years. Therefore if all eligible York residents received a health check the uptake would be 20 per cent annually.


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