DIABETES UK says less than half of over 40s in the West Midlands eligible for an NHS health check in the last five years have actually received one.
Launched in England in 2009, the programme was meant to offer a five-yearly check-ups to everyone aged 40 to 74 with the aim of spotting the early signs of Type 2 diabetes, stroke, kidney disease, heart disease and dementia.
Between 2013 and 2018, the number of people eligible to receive such a check in England totalled 15.5 million, but only 6.8 million (44 per cent) went on to receive one. In the West Midlands of 1.5 million eligible only 769,000 (48 per cent) received a check.
There is significant variation of NHS Health Checks across the West Midlands. Walsall is the only local authority in England where almost all of the eligible population received a health check at 99 per cent, Dudley is at 63.7 per cent and Coventry is at 58.2 per cent.
The worst performing areas are Wolverhampton at 25.7 per cent, Telford and Wrekin at 31.7 per cent and Staffordshire at 36.4 per cent.
In Warwickshire the figures are 37 per cent while in Worcestershire it is 51.3 per cent.
Peter Shorrick of Diabetes UK, said: “The success of the programme in certain areas is due to local councils working hard to make it easier for people to attend these free health checks that only take 15 minutes and can help keep people healthy.
“It is absolutely vital that all people who are eligible in every area get a health check. If left undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes can lead to devastating complications.”
To find out your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, go to www.diabetes.org.uk/riskscore
