RISK of dementia and stroke disease could be higher in Warwickshire after the county was listed in the bottom two per cent for residents taking advantage of free health checks.
Public Health England ranked the county 147 out of 150 for people taking up the offer of a check, which is designed to spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes and dementia in those between ages 40 and 74.
The ratings – which cover the past four years – mean just 30 per cent of those invited for a check-up accept the service.
In comparison everyone who was offered the check in nearby Leicestershire accepted it.
But Warwickshire County Council say it is one of the best for offering the checks and hope more people will visit their GP for a healthcare MOT.
A spokeswoman told the Observer: “More than 90 per cent of our eligible population have been invited to attend a free NHS Health Check over the last five years. The aim of the latest health checks campaign in Warwickshire is to encourage these people to take up the offer and attend a health check at their local doctors surgery.”
Since the start of the checks in 2013, nearly 2,500 have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and some 800 with diabetes.
With risk of developing conditions developing more in later life, the council aim to catch illnesses before they become severe.
Free checks can been booked at GP surgeries.
Visit youronething.co.uk/healthchecks to find out more.
