In-store check-ups could soon be available

Ministers have pledged to spend �4m on the "radical" measures needed to encourage men to get checked out before being laid low by ill-health.

Supermarkets, golf clubs, football grounds and libraries have all been suggested as possible locations for checks and services to be made available.

The move was announced by Deputy Health Minister Tom McCabe on a visit to Coatbridge.

Scotland's record on men's health is not one we can be proud of, but we are beginning to take steps to turn this around Tom McCabe Deputy health minister

He said: "There is clearly a need to encourage men to take more responsibility for their own health."

Men are said to be far less likely than women to go to their GPs. Last year, 68% of men but 84% of women had contact with their GP.

Meanwhile, coronary heart disease accounted for 22% of deaths in Scottish men, compared to 18% of female deaths.

The executive said no set blueprint has yet been drawn up for the latest initiative, but it pointed to the example of Hamilton, where punters visiting the town's racecourse can get their blood pressure tested.

Location choice

A public consultation exercise is to be launched in the next few months to decide what locations to choose.

Mr McCabe said: "Scotland's record on men's health is not one we can be proud of, but we are beginning to take steps to turn this around.

"The opening of the first male cancer clinic by the first minister in Edinburgh earlier this month heralded our commitment to support further improvements to health screening services for men and improve accessibility to those services."