Introduction

The NHS Health Check programme aims to help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease and certain types of dementia. Everyone between the ages of 40 and 74, who has not already been diagnosed with one of these conditions or have certain risk factors, will be invited (once every five years) to have a check to assess their risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes and will be given support and advice to help them reduce or manage that risk. A high take up of NHS Health Check is important to identify early signs of poor health leading to opportunities for early interventions.

People are eligible for a Health Check if they are aged between 40 and 74 and do not have any of the below existing conditions. People with these conditions should already be in receipt of regular check-ups.

• heart disease
• chronic kidney disease
• diabetes
• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• atrial fibrillation
• transient ischaemic attack
• inherited high cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolemia)
• heart failure
• peripheral arterial disease
• stroke
• currently being prescribed statins to lower cholesterol
• previous checks have found that you have a 20% or higher risk of getting cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years

Data Overview

NHS Health Check Invites

In 2022/23, Oldham GPs issued 13,360 NHS Health Check invites, more than double that of the previous year and the highest number since the NHS Health Check Programme began in 2013/14. This represented 21.1% of the population eligible for an NHS Health Check. This was higher than the England average of 18.4% but lower than the North West rate of 25.8% and Greater Manchester average of 32.5%. Oldham's rate of invites is 6th highest (out of 10 LAs) across Greater Manchester and 7th highest (out of 16 LAs) amongst Oldham's CIPFA Neighbours.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, NHS Health Checks could not be offered and so rates dropped to almost zero for the 2020/21 year. Recovery of the programme began during 2021/22 and for most areas performance has returned to pre-pandemic levels for 2022/23.

Figure 1: Number of Health Check invites by quarter in Oldham
Source: Oldham Council Public Health Intelligence Team / EMIS

Figure 2: Number of Health Check invites by year
Source: OHID

Figure 3: Number of Health Check invites 2022/23 across Greater Manchester
Source: OHID

Figure 4: Number of Health Check invites 2022/23 across Oldham's CIPFA Neighbours
Source: OHID

NHS Health Checks Received

In the most recent complete year (2022/23), Oldham GPs delivered 5,483 NHS Health Checks to eligible patients. This represents 8.7% of the eligible population, higher than the North West average of 8.2%, the Greater Manchester average of 8.5% and the national average of 7.2%. Oldham is 5th highest across Greater Manchester and 5th highest amongst CIPFA neighbours.

Oldham's delivery of Health Checks has recovered well since the Covid-19 pandemic, with high numbers of Health Checks for the first two quarters of 2023/24.

Figure 5: NHS Health Checks received by quarter in Oldham
Source: Oldham Council Public Health Intelligence Team / EMIS

Figure 6: NHS Health Checks received by year
Source: OHID

Figure 7: NHS Health Checks received 2022/23 across Greater Manchester
Source: OHID

Figure 8: NHS Health Checks received 2022/23 across Oldham's CIPFA Neighbours
Source: OHID

Further Information & Resources

OHID NHS Health Check Data Profile
Further data and information relating to NHS Health Checks

NHS Health Check Website
Information for patients detailing Health Check eligibility and what they can expect from the Health Check appointment