Norfolk residents have been sharing their views of NHS Health Checks, providing an insight into how the service can be shaped to support more people with their health choices in the future.
The NHS Health Check is a preventative programme providing a free check-up of the health of your heart and blood vessels, offered every five years to adults aged 40-74. It’s designed to identify early risk factors for conditions such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes, and to support behaviour change and early intervention.
We were asked to carry out an independent evaluation of the programme by Norfolk County Council’s Public Health team, to help them better understand the level of awareness and uptake of the service and the barriers preventing people from taking up the offer of an appointment. The research included a survey of 507 Norfolk residents and two focus groups held in early 2026.
Our report is now available to read here.
What did we find?
The findings from our research show that NHS Health Checks are generally well received by people who attend them. Nearly nine in ten respondents (89%) said they would have another NHS Health Check in the future, an increase from 80% in a previous evaluation we carried out in 2023.
Many participants described the checks as reassuring and valuable for understanding and monitoring their health. Those who attended health check appointments listed a number of benefits, including a deeper understanding of healthier eating habits, weight loss and the value of of increased physical activity, alongside the importance of prevention and early detection.
Mixed awareness
However, awareness and understanding of NHS Health Checks is varied. While many respondents correctly identified that the programme assesses risks linked to heart disease and diabetes, there was widespread confusion about what is included.
More than a quarter (28%) believed NHS Health Checks include cancer screening, while 22% thought they assess mental health conditions. Some thought the service was a general health “MOT”, which often led to expectations that a much wider range of health issues would be covered.
The research also uncovered a lack of understanding around eligibility, particularly regarding which medical conditions may make someone ineligible for a health check.
What’s stopping people having a health check?
The most common reason people gave for not having had an NHS Health Check in recent years was that they hadn’t received an invitation, with nearly two-thirds (64%) of respondents who hadn’t attended an appointment in the last five years citing this as the main cause.
This suggests that access to the programme is influenced by more than just an individual’s willingness to attend, but is a marked improvement from 86% in the 2023 evaluation.
A lack of knowledge about the locations people could access a health check was also cited as preventing take-up. While most people knew they could access a health check through their GP surgery, awareness of alternative venues, such as pharmacies, leisure centres and community centres, remained low.
Recommendations
Based on our findings we have made a series of recommendations to increase reach and take-up of the service going forward. These include expanding local awareness campaigns, strengthening the invitation processes, reviewing the name and messaging of the programme and providing clearer information about where people can seek support between health checks.
In response, Norfolk County Council welcomed the findings and said the report’s recommendations would help inform future planning around communications, practitioner training and efforts to increase uptake of NHS Health Checks across the county.