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Lack of clarity over NHS Health Check commissioning

Lack of clarity over NHS Health Check commissioning
22 July 2013



Public Health England (PHE) has admitted that more information will be needed so that local authorities can effectively commissioning NHS Health Checks. 
The government is aiming for 15 million NHS Health Checks to be carried out by 2018/19. 
Yet an official PHE document states that the organisation “cannot yet say” the best way to commission the service. 
Under primary care trusts (PCTs) NHS Health Checks were provided by a range of health professionals at pharmacies, GPs and in the third sector. 

Public Health England (PHE) has admitted that more information will be needed so that local authorities can effectively commissioning NHS Health Checks. 
The government is aiming for 15 million NHS Health Checks to be carried out by 2018/19. 
Yet an official PHE document states that the organisation “cannot yet say” the best way to commission the service. 
Under primary care trusts (PCTs) NHS Health Checks were provided by a range of health professionals at pharmacies, GPs and in the third sector. 
PHE has pledged to explore a variety of approaches to effectively commission the programme. 
The scheme is part of Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt’s ambition to save 30,000 lives each year by 2020 by avoiding premature mortality. 
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “We are an ageing population and thinking about our health early is vital to living a long and prosperous life.
“I’d like to see all 40-74 year olds taking up this potentially life-saving opportunity. And I’d like to see the NHS and local authorities encouraging people in their area to get involved.” 
Primary care trusts began offering NHS Health Checks in 2009 and “good progress” has been made, according to a government statement. 
However, the government also claimed that access has been “patchy” with some areas facing barriers and challenges to maximising the impact of the programme.
PHE has committed to review previous approaches to commissioning the service as well as develop a research programme to support the delivery of the programme both nationally and locally. 

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