A HEALTH check at a High Wycombe mosque came as the latest part of a drive to get more people making sure they get themselves checked over.

The checks are offered by GPs across Bucks to people aged between 40 and 74 who don’t have diabetes, heart disease or a stroke, to help prevent people getting these conditions.

The event at the Jubilee Road Mosque on January 25 aimed to highlight that such checks are relevant to people from an Asian ethnic background, as diabetes can be six times more common and heart disease is also more common.

As well as giving participants a tailored plan to help prevent them getting these conditions in the future, the checks can also identify people who have not yet been diagnosed, so that they can receive early effective treatment.

Patricia Birchley, Bucks County Council cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing, said: "NHS Health Checks are key to improving health in Buckinghamshire.

"More than 28,000 residents have had a check so far by making an appointment when contacted by their GP, but certain groups are less likely to attend when invited, and these community checks are being set up to help tackle this issue.

"I'd like to stress, though, that the usual way to have the NHS health check is to make an appointment when invited by your GP."

A total of 49 checks were given - 38 to men and 11 to women - at the event last month. It was organised by Buckinghamshire County Council and was also attended by the Chiltern Clinical Commissioning Group and Dr Rashmi Sawhney, local GP and Chiltern CCG Wycombe Clinical Locality Lead, who gave a talk.