Holland and Barrett announces major change across UK – 300,000 freebies | UK | News
Holland and Barrett launched a multi-million pound scheme to offer free medical examinations to the public. It will offer 300,000 free health checks per month in hopes of shifting to proactive health instead of seeking help when things go wrong.
The check-ins are aimed at people under 40 to support those who are not eligible for the NHS Health Check, which screens Brits aged 40 to 74. The retailer said its 4,500 Health Champions, who have undergone 500,000 hours of training through its academy, will deliver science-backed, personalized advice to help people better understand their bodies, decipher complex health information and translate it into actionable steps.
Holland and Barrett group chief executive Anthony Houghton believed this showed how the high street could support formal healthcare providers.
He said: “The risk is that we will become a nation that waits until something goes wrong. “For prevention to work, support needs to be built into the places where people go before they get sick, and that infrastructure already exists on the high street.
“This recognizes the role of trusted, community-based support alongside formal health services. As the UK’s leading health and wellness retailer, we are well placed on the high street and online to help the nation support their bodies and make preventive health a reality for everyone.”
The launch was announced with a company-commissioned Ipsos survey of 5,000 adults showing that 74% of people believe healthy habits are key to preventing future illnesses, but the majority wait until something goes wrong before taking action.
Double world heptathlon champion and Olympic silver medalist Katarina Johnson-Thompson backed the initiative, saying it was “a great place to start”.
“I have learned many lessons throughout my career, one of the most important of which is that if I take good care of my body now, it will stay good for longer,” she said.
“I’m a firm believer in pre-rehab over rehab, but an overload of health and wellness information can be overwhelming. H&B’s new Health Check-Ins are a great place to start with advice you can trust.”
To book check-in, customers are encouraged to go to their local store or visit the website.
