Check-ups for middle-aged are waste of resources, say doctors

Published on Friday 13 June 2008 22:01

HEALTH checks for over-40s will divert NHS resources from the genuinely sick to the "worried well", doctors have warned.

A British Medical Association (BMA) conference in London yesterday heard GPs call for the Scottish and UK governments to discuss plans to introduce routine health checks for people entering middle age, before rushing to implement them.

It is another setback for the Scottish Government's efforts to reform general practice.

Moves to impose extended opening hours on surgeries in Scotland have angered GPs, the majority of whom are refusing to take part in the scheme.

Yesterday, GPs attending the BMA's local medical committee (LMC) conference voiced their fears about routine health checks for 40-year-olds, which would include measuring cholesterol and blood pressure.

The SNP's manifesto last year pledged to introduce the "Life Begins" health checks and individual health plans for all men and women when they hit 40.

This promise was repeated in a "Better Health, Better Care" action plan in December.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown also promised "health MOTs" for over-40s in England.

But doctors at the conference voted in favour of a motion stating that they believe a national screening programme would "detract further valuable GP resources from the sick and vulnerable to the 'worried well'."

Dr Dean Marshall, chairman of the BMA's Scottish GPs committee, said the checks would perhaps lead to an extra six patients attending an average surgery every day.

But he added: "There is also no evidence that people will take them up. Dragging everyone in kicking and screaming to see a doctor is not a good use of resources. We are struggling to keep up with the unwell, never mind the worried well."

In 2006/07, a scheme offering cardiovascular checks to over-45s was run in Scotland.

Dr Marshall said this scheme – which only ran for a year – struggled to attract patients and was not deemed a success.

He urged the Scottish Government to discuss the plans with doctors before pushing ahead.

Margaret Curran, the Labour spokeswoman on health, agreed that the Scottish Government needed to talk to doctors about the health checks.

"The SNP need to remember that it is doctors and nurses and other health staff that deliver patient care, not ministers and bureaucrats," she said.

Margaret Watt, of the Scotland Patients Association, gave her support to the health checks and said: "Anything that helps patients to improve their health is welcomed by us."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "We remain committed to introducing the Life Begins health checks and how they will be delivered is currently being worked on."

FACT BOX

PLANS to introduce routine health checks for 40-year-olds in Scotland are likely to see people offered tests including:

• Blood pressure checks, with those with high levels prescribed drugs to reduce it.

• Cholesterol tests, with statins for high cholesterol along with diet advice.

• Patients who smoke will be urged to quit and given access to smoking cessation courses.

• Doctors could assess if a patient is drinking too much and give advice on how to reduce alcohol intake or refer them for further professional help.