'There's a lot of stigma about men being checked'

Health professionals are urging people to get free NHS checks, as the latest data shows only a third of people invited actually take them up.

The NHS offers everyone aged between 40 to 74 a free "midlife MOT", providing they do not have prior cardiovascular conditions.

Gareth Elmes, from Somerset, urged people to get checked out after saying his test was "one of the easiest" he could have taken and everyone should "just do it".

Health practitioner Andrea Osborne added: "There's a lot of stigma, I think a lot towards men, especially in older age but it is really simple and everything's confidential."

The 20-30 minute check involves measuring your height, weight and waist, as well as taking your blood pressure and testing a small blood sample for cholesterol/blood sugar.

You are likely to be referred from your GP surgery or you can book directly on your local council's website.

Elmes said he had seen a sign outside the Kings Arms Community Hub in Wellington offering the service and decided to take it up.

"I put it off for about four or five weeks but it was so easy. I don't know how as men we break the stigma of going to the doctors, it's a very hard one.

"I walked through the door, sat down, had my height measured, sat here and relaxed.

"I had my blood test taken, little prick on the finger, asked a couple of questions and then the results come out at the end. Simple as that," he said.

The latest NHS data for the West Country shows only a third of people invited took up a health check between October and December 2025.

Osborne added: "At the end of the day, you're just going to have a chat and do some tests.

"I think it's a really good idea to have a baseline so if you actually start when you're 40-years-old having a health check, you're entitled to one every five years. That gives you a nice baseline where you are."

Tests are eligible through the NHS and local councils and can take place in medical centres or in spaces like libraries or community centres.

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