On 30 August 2024, the government announced it will roll out a programme of free workplace health checks. The initiative has been introduced to reduce the burden on the NHS and to try to prevent heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes.
Currently, of more than 16 million people eligible for an NHS Health Check, only 40% actually complete one. The programme aims to provide an efficient, convenient method for more people to get checked and potentially identify early signs of various health problems. Workplace health checks will be available to those aged between 40 and 74 without pre-existing conditions linked to heart disease. The check will consist of a short questionnaire, height, weight and waist measurements, a blood pressure test and a blood test. It is expected that many professions will get involved, ranging from the building and transport sectors to social care and hospitality.
What are the benefits to employers?
It is recognised that there is a link between employees’ health and that of the business in which they work. Offering health checks in the workplace will reduce the costs and inconvenience, with the hope it will encourage those who would usually not make an appointment to get checked. Employers can expect to see benefits from the programme as employees who are on top of their health are likely to be more effective and productive at work. This approach is also expected to significantly reduce absence rates. In 2022, it was estimated that 185.6 million days of work were missed due to sickness or injury, with around 29% due to minor illnesses. Minimising absence should allow employers to better manage workloads and productivity, as well as reducing costs for the business. Using preventive measures is generally far more effective than treating established health conditions and may therefore be less disruptive to businesses.
Involvement in the NHS Health Check scheme will allow employers to meaningfully support staff through ill health and encourage positive lifestyle changes for those who are at risk. It will also help identify where reasonable adjustments may need to be made to help accommodate employees with health issues and avoid risks associated with failures to make such adjustments.
A further programme will be piloted in Norfolk, Medway and Lambeth introducing digital health checks at home with results being automatically written into an individual’s GP record through the NHS app, which is expected to be rolled out in early 2025. This will give patients the option to undertake their NHS Health Check digitally at home, or face-to-face in the workplace. The government expects one million checks to be delivered within the first four years of the programme.
