BBC News | HEALTH | 'MOT' for retired patients

Every patient is to be offered a free medical or health "MOT" when they retire, under government plans.

However, doctors have questioned whether the health check would be effective or a good use of NHS money.

The Department of Health has confirmed reports that the voluntary health checks will be introduced.

At the moment, a patient is offered a health check when they register with their GP. If a patient requires a medical for insurance or other purposes they can be asked to pay.

But under the government's plans, which are part of its efforts to make the NHS more consumer friendly, the health MOTs will be offered free after retirement.

It is understood that the medicals could be carried out by the patient's own GP or practice nurse or by nurses working in NHS walk-in-centres.

The checks are aimed at identifying serious illnesses at an early stage and before they may become serious.

I am not sure if there is evidence to show how useful it is

Dr Bill Reith, GP, Aberdeen

Details of the health MOTs will be announced by Prime Minister Tony Blair as part of the NHS national plan later this month.

Useful

But Dr Bill Reith, a GP in Aberdeen, questioned whether the health check would be useful.

"I certainly do not think that it is unreasonable to offer patients some sort of check up when they retire, but I am not sure if there is evidence to show how useful it is," he said.

"It there is evidence then fine but if there is not then we would like to look at this proposal further."

He added that while the MOTs sounded "superficially very attractive", they might not pick up many problems.

Dr Hamish Meldrum, a member of the BMA's GP committee, said GP practices would have to be paid for the work.

But he added: "There is not a lot of evidence to suggest that doing routine MoTs are actually effective.

"Even if arrangements were made to pay practices for the work, I think there would be questions about whether it is justified or even cost effective."


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