FREE health checks were the order of the day with both an Oxford gym and health leaders urging people to have a ‘mid-life MOT’.

While health leaders are encouraging people to take advantage of a free NHS health check up, Feelfit Gym, in Cowley, is also offering free health and fitness tests.

Staff at the gym, in Templars Square, will check people’s fitness and health, then give advice on how to become healthier and fitter.

The NHS health check was launched in 2013 to encourage people aged between 40 and 74 to go to their GP for a series of routine tests against preventable, but potentially lethal, illnesses.

But despite the county’s Public Health team and GPs sending letters to nearly 103,000 eligible people, fewer than half have booked and attended a health check.

Now health leaders are urging people to take advantage of the appointments, even if they feel healthy, and not ignore the letters.

Hilary Hibbert-Biles, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for public health, said: “We believe the NHS health check is a really important tool for preventing serious health conditions such as stroke, heart attack and diabetes.

“That is why we have worked so hard to promote the programme.

“One of the main problems is persuading the eligible public, who are aged 40-74 and are probably feeling completely healthy, that it is worth finding time for.

“I would to urge anyone who has received an invitation from their doctor to get an NHS health check not to ignore that letter and to book their appointment today.”

Since the NHS health check scheme was set up in 2013, 102,805 of the 191,372 eligible people across Oxfordshire have been invited for a health check.

But only 50,141 have actually booked a check and attended – just 48.8 per cent of those invited.

The national target is for 65 per cent of patients invited to receive a health check attending.

In the South East region, where 1,141,465 have been offered the health check, only 498,895 received one – just 19.5 per cent.

To get a health check speak to your GP or pharmacist.

THE ‘MIDLIFE MOT’

An NHS health check has been coined as a ‘midlife MOT’ because it checks patients for a variety of preventable but potentially lethal illnesses.

Every person aged between 40 and 74 in England is invited for a free check-up every five years unless they have an existing blood condition.

The health checks are conducted at a GP or pharmacy, where medics check whether the body’s most important systems are running smoothly and flag up possible problems before they do real damage.

Patients will have their blood pressure, cholesterol, and BMI checked, before being given their results.

Some of the main illnesses being looked for include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and some forms of dementia.

The GP or pharmacist may give people information about altering their lifestyle, but if a serious problem emerges they may refer a patient for further tests.

Eligible patients will be invited to a health check by letter.

Anyone interested in having an NHS health check should speak to their GP or pharmacist about arranging one.