Issue - meetings

At its meeting on 27 June 2017 the committee considered the retrospective evaluation of the NHS Health Checks programme in Wiltshire.

It was agreed that the committee would receive an update showing how outcomes for those on the programme compared with those not participating in it.

John Goodall - Consultant in Public Health, Health Promotion & Prevention, Wiltshire Council and Dr Alice Beech – GP Registrar, Wiltshire Council presented the NHS Health Checks update. Which provided an evaluation update on the NHS Health Checks programme to the Committee.

Points made included:

·       NHS Health Checks are intended to identify early signs of cardiovascular disease.  They are delivered by primary care providers (general practice) to adults in England aged between 40 and 74 years without any pre-existing cardiovascular disease every five years.  The NHS Health Checks programme was commissioned by Wiltshire Council as a mandated service required by the Health and Social Care Act (2012).

·       The NHS Health Check programme began in Wiltshire in 2011. This programme was evaluated by the public health team in May 2017.  The evaluation showed an increase in the percentage of the eligible population invited to attend an NHS Health Check: from 21.7% in 2012 – 2013 to 32.2% in 2015 - 2016. 

·       From 2012 to 2016 an average of 45.5% of patients who were invited for an NHS Health Check attended and the percentage uptake increased from 2012 to 2016.  On average from 2012 to 2016, 55.5% of patients who were invited for an NHS Health Check did not attend.

·       In 2017 the results of the evaluation were presented to the Health Select Committee at Wiltshire Council.  The committee requested more information regarding the outcomes of patients who had been invited to attend an NHS Health Check but did not attend.  

Resolved

1.    That the Committee supports the conclusion that this study had highlighted the potential poor health outcomes related to not attending an NHS Health Check when invited.

2.    That a Rapid Scrutiny exercise be carried out to:

a.    Determine how much further the data available could be used to analyse the costs of non-attendance as well as informing a more focused promotion / advertising of the Health Checks based on:

b.    Demographic analysis of those who do not attend and the understanding of the reasons for non-attendance to inform promotion activities.

c.       Review the provision and “advertising” of Health Checks by GPs / surgeries.

d.       Analyse comparative outcome for attendees / non-attendees.

The Chairman thanked John Goodall and Dr Alice Beech for their report.