NHS health checks risk becoming ineffective if they are not promoted to patients, Nice has warned.

The checks could save 650 lives and prevent 1,600 heart attacks and strokes every year if the government administered them effectively, Nice said, in briefing materials on health checks for local authorities published on Wednesday (February 26).

But the health check programme was being "hampered" by low uptake levels and because staff were failing to follow up on the checks, Nice said.

Community engagement and "appropriately trained" staff were both needed to increase the uptake of health checks, Nice said	More on health checks NHS England commits to health checks in diabetes drive Module 211 - Health screening Councils must take note of pharmacy for NHS health checks
	Community engagement and "appropriately trained" staff were both needed to increase uptake within a combination of pharmacies and other community settings, such as community centres and GP practices, Nice said.

The checks, offered once every five years to every eligible person aged 40-74, assess people for the risk of heart problems, kidney disease and diabetes. They could also help remove "behavioural risk factors" by addressing issues such as alcohol, weight, diet and exercise, Nice said.

The briefing materials could help local authorities take action against the rising number of serious health conditions by increasing the number of people who received a check, said Mike Kelly, director of the Nice centre for public health.

"Following the advice set out in the briefing can help local authorities tackle health inequalities and make the most efficient use of resources to improve the health of people in their area," he added.

Public Health England said it would carry out research into the "impact and effectiveness" of the health check programme, in a health committee report presented to the House of Commons on Wednesday (February 26).

Local authorities are mandated to deliver health checks to 20 per cent of the target population each year. Almost 600,000 health checks were offered in the first quarter of 2013, but less than half were taken up by patients, according to data released by Public Health England last year.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said he'd like to see all 40-74 year olds in England, estimated to be around 15 million, take up the "potentially life-saving opportunity" of health checks.