Minister defends controversial NHS Health Checks programme

The Health Checks programme of the NHS in England is currently operating on a “reasonable” evidence base while still being evaluated, MPs have been told.

Jane Ellison, the public health minister for England, defended the programme when she appeared before MPs on the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee on 9 July for their inquiry into national health screening.

NHS Health Checks was introduced in England in 2009 and was designed to cut cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Under the programme, everyone aged between 40 and 74 who has not already been given a diagnosis of certain conditions or has certain risk factors is invited once every five years to have a check to assess their risk …