Prime Highlights:

• The City of York Council plans to restart its NHS Health Checks programme, aiming to detect early signs of heart and metabolic problems and improve health outcomes across the city.
• The programme will focus on residents at higher risk, including those in deprived areas, people with high BMI, smokers, and those with mental health conditions, as well as residents with Autism and ADHD.

Key Facts:

• The annual budget for the NHS Health Check programme will increase from £50,000 to £100,000, with the potential to rise to £150,000, totaling up to £750,000 over five years.
• The programme helps prevent serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and dementia by identifying undiagnosed conditions and enabling early lifestyle interventions.

Background:

The City of York Council has announced plans to restart its NHS Health Checks programme as part of its efforts to improve public health and cut health inequalities across the city. The NHS Health Check is a free check-up for people aged 40 to 74 to spot early signs of heart and other serious health problems.

Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of premature death in York, with people living in the most deprived communities almost twice as likely to die from CVD as those in more affluent areas.

Lucy Steels Walshaw, Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care at City of York Council, said the renewed programme plays a vital role in the city’s prevention strategy. “This programme is a cornerstone of our prevention strategy. By targeting those most at risk and expanding investment, we can make a real difference in reducing health inequalities and improving quality of life for thousands of residents,” she said.

The annual budget will rise from £50,000 to £100,000, with the possibility of increasing to £150,000 if additional funding is secured. Over five years, the contract could reach a value of up to £750,000.

York will continue prioritising residents at higher risk, including those living in deprived areas, individuals with high BMI, smokers and people with mental health conditions. The new contract will also include provisions for reaching residents with Autism and ADHD. As mandated under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, local authorities must provide access to the NHS Health Check. Recommissioning the programme helps York follow the rules and make good use of public money.

Nationally, the programme is credited with preventing hundreds of heart attacks and strokes each year by identifying undiagnosed conditions and enabling early lifestyle interventions.

The proposal will be discussed at the Executive meeting on Tuesday, 2 December 2025. If approved, the council will start the process to choose a provider to run the service from April 2026.

The chosen provider will need to make sure the service is easy to access for everyone, including people with language, digital, or mobility challenges.