AQW 6624/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 15/02/2024
Answered On Date: 29/07/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any plans he has to match NHS Health Check, which is available for people aged 40 to 74 in England.

Answer:

I have no current plans to match the NHS England Health Check in Northern Ireland (NI), however, the extract below from the HPSS (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 is relevant to patients who have not presented to their GP within 3 years: -

Patients not seen within three years

5. Where a registered patient who—

(a) has attained the age of 16 years but has not attained the age of 75 years; and

(b) has attended neither a consultation with, nor a clinic provided by, the contractor within the period of 3 years prior to the date of his request;

requests a consultation the contractor shall, in addition and without prejudice to his other obligations in respect of that patient under the contract, provide such a consultation in the course of which it shall make such inquiries and undertake such examinations as appear to him to be appropriate in all the circumstances.

Please note that the obligation on the GP practice is to provide a consultation (to patients not seen for 3 years) as opposed to a health check however this would offer the patient an opportunity to discuss ongoing health issues and seek their GP’s advice on the need for diagnostic tests including weight, urine and blood pressure.