"Encouraging more people to engage with preventative healthcare will help create a healthier population while supporting a healthier, more productive workforce."
- Brett Hill - Broadstone
The latest data from the Department for Health Improvement and Disparities has found that 2.48 million people missed out on a free NHS Health Check in 2025/26, with the proportion of people attending their free NHS Health Check after an invitation falling to its lowest level in more than a decade.
3.80 million people aged between 40 and 74 were invited to a Health Check in England in 2025/26, but only 35%, 1.32 million people, went on to receive a Check.
The number of people who received an NHS Health Check fell in the last year to its lowest level in three years, when the full year total for 2022/23 stood at 1.14 million, and marked a fall of 122,300 from the 2024/25 total of 1.44 million.
However, the proportion of people who were invited for a test and took it up fell to the lowest level in more than a decade in 2025/26. Standing at just over a third, or 35%, the proportion is down from 38% in the previous financial year, and by a significant 14 percentage points from the earliest year on record, 2013/14, when almost half of invitations were taken up, and the proportion stood at 49%.
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. They aim to identify those at risk of suffering serious health conditions such as heart disease or stroke and can recommend actions to lower health risks, such as lifestyle changes or taking medication to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
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"It is disappointing to see NHS Health Check uptake continuing to decline, with millions of eligible people missing out on a free service that can play a vital role in identifying serious health conditions before they develop," Brett Hill, head of health & protection at Broadstone, said.
"Regular health checks are a crucial first line of defence against chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease. Detecting these risks early gives people the opportunity to access treatment sooner, make positive lifestyle changes and significantly improve their long-term health outcomes.
"Prevention is always better than cure. NHS Health Checks not only help individuals take control of their health but can also reduce pressure on the NHS by preventing avoidable illness and more costly interventions further down the line.
"Improving awareness of the benefits of these free checks and making it as easy as possible for people to attend will be key to reversing this worrying decline. Employers are increasingly recognising the value of investing in preventative health strategies, and the same principle applies at a national level. Encouraging more people to engage with preventative healthcare will help create a healthier population while supporting a healthier, more productive workforce."
