NHS Health Checks Community Setting Qualitative Survey 2024

NHS Health Checks Community Setting Qualitative Survey 2024

Public Health Officers conducted a qualitative survey with residents in community settings in Birkenhead to understand:

  • Resident’s understanding of what an NHS Health Check included.

  • Resident’s experiences of an NHS Health Check, if they had attended one.

  • Reasons why residents did not, or would not, attend an NHS Health Check if invited.

Public Health Officers engaged with residents between the ages of 40-74 years who could be eligible for an NHS Health Check. This insight was used to inform service providers currently contracted to carry out the NHS Health Check programme.

Insights gathered: May 2024 - July 2024

Insights gathered by

Public Health Officers’ Team, Public Health, Wirral Council

Aim

NHS Health Checks are a core component of England's cardiovascular disease prevention programme. Despite 90-100% of eligible Wirral residents being invited for an NHS Health Check, only 8-9% attend each year. This insight work sought to increase the number of people attending an NHS Health Check by identifying and understanding resident perceptions, experiences and barriers of attending health checks, to inform how providers reduce barriers to attendance and promote the role of NHS Health Checks and the importance of attendance.

People engaged with

This qualitative survey targeted people who could be eligible for an NHS Health Check (i.e. Wirral residents aged 40-74) and had a variety of different employment statuses (e.g. employed, retired, full-time carer, etc). 96 people were surveyed in community settings in the Birkenhead area.

Methods

Public Health Officers engaged in conversations with Wirral residents in community settings across Birkenhead. During these conversations, residents who matched their target group were invited to complete the NHS Health Check qualitative survey. Public Health Officers engaged in guided conversations with respondents, using the qualitative survey as a topic guide, to assist respondents to share their detailed thoughts and experiences on NHS Health Checks.

Key insights

Insight was captured on why respondents would not attend an NHS Health Check. The following five key themes were highlighted:

  • Lack of awareness or knowledge: people do not know what it is, whether it is free, or its relevance.

  • Competing priorities: not having the time to go and struggling to schedule around other work or responsibilities. This was especially highlighted with people that had caring responsibilities.

  • Misunderstanding the purpose: a lack of recognition that the programme is preventative, combined with the view that they do not want to burden the NHS when they feel healthy and well.

  • Aversion to preventative medicine: some people are not interested, actively do not want to know or are afraid they might receive bad health news. Others do not want to be told off or given lifestyle advice. Some highlighted their fear of needles as a barrier to attending.

  • Convenience: not being able to get an appointment at a time or on a day that suits them at their GP Practice, particularly among people working office hours. Difficulties with getting transport to the GP surgery or community hub was also a concern, as was the time and organisation involved in making and attending the check. 

 

For respondents who had attended an NHS Health Check, insight was captured on their experience. Positive experiences included:

  • The check gave them time to talk with a medical professional. For some attending a yearly health check for a specific long-term condition, it gave them time to do a medication review.

  • They felt listened to during the check.

  • The medical professional explained the tests being carried out and what the outcome of the tests could indicate.

  • They were given either specific or general advice to help reduce their risks of developing long-term health conditions.

  • The medical professional confirmed their health was good.

  • They were diagnosed with a health condition they did not know they had and provided further appointments.

 

Negative experiences included:

  • Some checks had limited time, and they felt they were given limited information.

  • They did not know what to expect from the check.

  • Some specific parts of the check were not completed.

  • They still have health issues to resolve (vaping/diet etc). 

Additionally, there were some residents interviewed who were too young for an NHS Health Check but felt that it would be useful to attend.

Quotes

“I was listened to and the doctor explained why each test was being done and what issues the health check may indicate… [I would recommend an NHS Health Check as it is] to ensure you’re healthy as you get older.”

“[It was] very quick, told I was overweight, watch diet etc, that was about it… It did not influence my health behaviours. [I] have not taken any actions or made any changes to lifestyle since the Health Check.”

How have the insights been used/shared?

This insight was shared with NHS Health Check providers to inform how they develop methods to reduce the barriers raised by respondents, that prevent them from attending a check. It also allowed providers to understand how people perceive the check, to inform how they promote the role of an NHS Health Check and the importance of attending.

Contact

kateleah@wirral.gov.uk