The gap between adults being offered a free NHS Health Check and those that take it up is at its widest since the pandemic, an analysis of official figures shows.
This is in stark contrast to employer provided preventative health screening, which has increased.
An analysis of data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows more than one million people aged 40-74 were offered an NHS Health Check in April-June 2025.
However, consultancy Broadstone said that while this figure marked a record high, 675,367 people decided not to take up the appointment. This means only a third, or 329,426, received a check.
NHS GPs or local councils should offer these checks to people aged 40-74 with no pre-existing health conditions every five years. They are vital in identifying the risk of health conditions such as heart disease or stroke. They are also an opportunity to offer advice to make healthier lifestyle choices or to prescribe medication to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Emily Jones, client consulting director at Broadstone, said: “Frequent, comprehensive health checks are a critical first line of defence against chronic and even fatal health issues through enabling identification, diagnosis and treatment at an early stage. This early detection can also help to significantly minimise the risk of complications and promote overall long-term health and wellbeing.
“Given this, it’s very disappointing that more than two-thirds of those being offered a check did not attend in the latest quarter, despite the clear benefits.
“In sharp contrast, we are seeing increasing uptake of these preventative screening services among employers to support their staff against deteriorating access to NHS care and limit the costs of long-term sickness and absenteeism.
“By offering health screening programmes through the workplace, employers gain access to aggregated, anonymised data that provides valuable insights into workforce health trends. When analysed effectively, it enables organisations to tailor wellbeing initiatives to the specific needs of their employees, track progress over time, and evaluate the impact of interventions.
“This data-driven approach not only enhances employee health outcomes but also informs strategic decisions around benefits design, productivity planning, and long-term workforce sustainability.”
