Millions of people could miss out on health checks for potentially fatal conditions, an investigation has revealed, because cash-strapped hospitals deem them to be a low priority.
As many as nine million patients may miss out on checks designed to spot potentially fatal conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, unless current provision and uptake improve, according to the GP magazine investigation.
The health checks look for risk factors such as high cholesterol and blood pressure.
One senior GP criticised the "ad hoc" programme, saying more central guidance is needed, while one health trust said carrying out the checks is not a priority due to "other pressures" and a charity leader warns of a "postcode lottery".
In April a mandatory target to check 20% of those aged 40-74 each year was introduced, having been an informal target since 2009.
GP magazine sent Freedom of Information requests to all 151 primary care trusts (PCTs) in England, of which 118 responded.
