NHS to offer screening for over-40s
Pharmacies and community centres could be used to offer a new screening programme for a range of illnesses in a bid to increase the uptake amongst the population, Health Secretary Alan Johnson has said.
Mr Johnson said there was a "great clinical case" for the scheme offering everyone aged 40 to 74 in England check-ups for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.
"Everybody agrees that prevention is better than cure and if we are going to tackle these debilitating diseases - kidney disease, strokes, heart attacks, diabetes - we have got the ability now to put much more into prevention. We have to find practical ways to do it," he told BBC Breakfast.
Mr Johnson said the Government was expecting a 75% take-up of the scheme and pharmacies and community centres could be used to offer the programme as well as GP surgeries in a bid to increase uptake.
The conditions affect the lives of more than four million people and account for around half the mortality gap between the rich and poor.
It is estimated that the illnesses currently kill an estimated 170,000 people a year. Government modelling suggests the new programme will prevent up to 9,500 heart attacks and strokes and save 2,000 lives every year.
In January, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that people would be offered check-ups but the details will be fleshed out by Mr Johnson.
GPs have warned the Government has "not properly thought through" how such screening would be put into practice.
The British Medical Association said in January that it would require a "significant expansion" of specialist staff and equipment in surgeries, and greatly increase the number of people needing hospital treatment.
Everyone between the ages of 40 and 74 will be entitled to the checks, which will be based on things like age, sex, family history of disease, height, weight and blood pressure. A blood test to measure cholesterol will also be included.