Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the NHS Health Check.

The estimated impact and outcomes of the NHS Health Check programme are based on economic modelling published by the Department in 2008.

The Department’s Policy Research Programme (PRP) has commissioned two independent studies on the NHS Health Check programme, both of which are currently ongoing. One study is being led by Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Dentistry, the other by Imperial College London. There are also a number of research projects, within both the Policy Research Programme (PRP) and National Institute for Health Research portfolios, which will have relevance for different aspects of NHS Health Checks and other related services.

In addition to these peer-reviewed academic research projects, there are multiple local evaluations of the programme being undertaken.

Public Health England, which supports local government in their responsibility to implement NHS Health Checks throughout the country, has set up an Expert Scientific and Clinical Advisory Panel to bring greater scientific rigour to the programme. The panel is due to publish a research and evaluation strategy which will establish a clear outline of the research and evaluation priorities for the future implementation of the programme.