BMJ 2015;350:h581 doi: 10.1136/bmj.h581 (Published 2 February 2015)
Page 1 of 1
News
NEWS Government defends NHS health checks for people aged 40-74 but promises evaluation Adrian O’Dowd London
The government has defended the NHS Health Check programme despite calls from MPs for a full review of the scheme after concerns about its effectiveness and use of resources. However, two national research projects looking at its effect have been commissioned and are due to report early this year. The government published its official response on 29 January to a report on national health screening from the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, published in October last year.1-3
The NHS Health Check programme (www.healthcheck.nhs.uk) is designed to help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, and certain types of dementia. Everyone in England between the ages of 40 and 74 who has not already been given a diagnosis of one of these conditions is invited to have a health check every five years to assess their risk. In the Science and Technology Committee’s report of last year MPs raised concerns about the value of the programme, saying that it had been introduced “without a rigorous evidence base” and was not reviewed by the UK National Screening Committee, and asked for it be reviewed. The government, in its response, agreed with the principle of ensuring that there was a strong evidence base behind the programme. Its report says, “The UK NSC [National Screening Committee] was not asked to scrutinise the NHS Health Check programme in the first instance as it was not designed as a screening programme but a risk awareness, risk assessment, and risk management programme.
“However, the government is committed to ensuring that the programme is cost effective and evidence based, which is why the advisory panel has been put in place and other actions taken. We will keep all evidence under review and will revisit the committee’s recommendation in light of this process.” This panel was the “expert scientific and clinical advisory panel,” made up of clinicians and academics and set up to scrutinise and advise on the evidence base for the Health Check programme and facilitate future research and evaluation.
In addition, two national research projects (led by Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Imperial College London) looking at the effects of the Health Check programme, equity of access to it, and reduction of risk factors, were due to report early this year, said the government. Kevin Fenton, director of health and wellbeing at Public Health England, said, “PHE is committed to bringing greater scientific oversight to this programme.”
thebmj.com Margaret McCartney: NHS Health Check betrays the ethos of public health (BMJ 2014;349:g4752, doi:10.1136/bmj.g4752) 1
2 3
Department of Health. Government response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee report on national health screening. Jan 2015. https://www.gov. uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/399296/national_health_ screening_8999.pdf. O’Dowd A. MPs call for review of NHS health checks. BMJ 2014;349:g6498. House of Commons Science and Technology Committee. National health screening: third report of Session 2014-15. 20 Oct 2014. www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/ cmselect/cmsctech/244/24402.htm.
Cite this as: BMJ 2015;350:h581 © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2015
For personal use only: See rights and reprints http://www.bmj.com/permissions
Subscribe: http://www.bmj.com/subscribe
Page 1 of 1
News
NEWS Government defends NHS health checks for people aged 40-74 but promises evaluation Adrian O’Dowd London
The government has defended the NHS Health Check programme despite calls from MPs for a full review of the scheme after concerns about its effectiveness and use of resources. However, two national research projects looking at its effect have been commissioned and are due to report early this year. The government published its official response on 29 January to a report on national health screening from the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, published in October last year.1-3
The NHS Health Check programme (www.healthcheck.nhs.uk) is designed to help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, and certain types of dementia. Everyone in England between the ages of 40 and 74 who has not already been given a diagnosis of one of these conditions is invited to have a health check every five years to assess their risk. In the Science and Technology Committee’s report of last year MPs raised concerns about the value of the programme, saying that it had been introduced “without a rigorous evidence base” and was not reviewed by the UK National Screening Committee, and asked for it be reviewed. The government, in its response, agreed with the principle of ensuring that there was a strong evidence base behind the programme. Its report says, “The UK NSC [National Screening Committee] was not asked to scrutinise the NHS Health Check programme in the first instance as it was not designed as a screening programme but a risk awareness, risk assessment, and risk management programme.
“However, the government is committed to ensuring that the programme is cost effective and evidence based, which is why the advisory panel has been put in place and other actions taken. We will keep all evidence under review and will revisit the committee’s recommendation in light of this process.” This panel was the “expert scientific and clinical advisory panel,” made up of clinicians and academics and set up to scrutinise and advise on the evidence base for the Health Check programme and facilitate future research and evaluation.
In addition, two national research projects (led by Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Imperial College London) looking at the effects of the Health Check programme, equity of access to it, and reduction of risk factors, were due to report early this year, said the government. Kevin Fenton, director of health and wellbeing at Public Health England, said, “PHE is committed to bringing greater scientific oversight to this programme.”
thebmj.com Margaret McCartney: NHS Health Check betrays the ethos of public health (BMJ 2014;349:g4752, doi:10.1136/bmj.g4752) 1
2 3
Department of Health. Government response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee report on national health screening. Jan 2015. https://www.gov. uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/399296/national_health_ screening_8999.pdf. O’Dowd A. MPs call for review of NHS health checks. BMJ 2014;349:g6498. House of Commons Science and Technology Committee. National health screening: third report of Session 2014-15. 20 Oct 2014. www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/ cmselect/cmsctech/244/24402.htm.
Cite this as: BMJ 2015;350:h581 © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2015
For personal use only: See rights and reprints http://www.bmj.com/permissions
Subscribe: http://www.bmj.com/subscribe
