Are private 'body MOTs' a genuinely worthwhile gift or a gimmick?

IT IS marketed as the ideal Christmas gift for the person who has everything.

A paid-for health MOT at a private hospital, which will hopefully give peace of mind that you're in fine fettle, but which could otherwise flag up a hidden health problem at the earliest opportunity.

Usually ranging in price from about £220-£600, the process routinely involves a number of tests including blood and urine tests, blood pressure, weight, height, lung and heart function.

If more extensive tests, like CT scans, are deemed necessary, the price can go up.

Screenings are performed to detect illnesses including cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, or cholesterol problems before symptoms are pronounced.

These so-called "body MOTs" certainly meet a consumer demand, making an estimated £65m a year for their providers, although no one organisation monitors exactly how many people are screened by the various private healthcare providers each year.

But many within the National Health Service believe the tests are unnecessary, costly and swamp the NHS with unnecessary follow-ups.

We asked two experts to make the cases for and against.

DR Greg Place, of Ashfield House surgery in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, is chairman for the Nottingham Local Medical Committee.

He said the vast majority of private health screening patients would be better off spending their money on an exercise bike, nicotine patches or a healthy, balanced diet incorporating fresh fruit and vegetables.

"We don't see private health screening as a very useful thing," he said. "Many tests are already provided by the NHS, but the 'worried well' latch on to extra tests thinking, 'I can make more of my health by having this done'.

"If you've got symptoms, come to the doctor and we can plan targeted investigations.

"We would prefer people to come to their GP to discuss their concerns. GPs are pleased to do cholesterol or blood pressure tests if there is a family history.

"There is little evidence that screening healthy people without any symptoms is providing any benefit."

Of the repercussions for the NHS on the occasions when people return from their private screening with "grey area" results, Dr Place said: "Private screenings cost. Some people want screening done privately, then want to know what the NHS is going to do for them free of charge.

"One of the problems with medicine is it rarely gives a yes or no, black or white answer. Often it presents a grey area, and patients are left thinking 'What does it mean?' In most cases it doesn't mean that you need to do a lot more screening, but the 'worried well' can then want a lot more screening done on the NHS.

"What the NHS GPs really want to do is work with people; for a private health screener, they've got to work on a result. We look at the whole person, including their family background, diet and lifestyle.

"I concede it may be reassuring to get a normal result and some people feel better for that, but the problems occur when you have a result that looks odd; 'What might it mean?' Most people get anxious when there may be no need to worry."

THERE are several private hospitals and clinics in Notts selling health screening, including BMI The Park Hospital, Nottingham. Its health screening manager, Sarah Westbrook-Burr, said all its tests were clinically valid and backed by solid medical evidence.

"Health screening has grown steadily over the past ten years. Screening can help detect diseases and health issues in their early stages so that it's likely to be easier to treat and that treatment will be less aggressive. Most of our patients have a screening to gain peace of mind because of family history of a certain illness."

Ms Westbrook-Burr said screening most benefited people aged 35-55, and the service could offer scans including CT and ECG, mammograms and prostate cancer testing.

"But we don't have a one-size-fits-all approach to health screening. For example, we only offer CT scans to patients when clinically indicated.

"Tests are offered based on the patient's sex, age, personal risk factors and clinical evidence. There are different types of health screens to choose from and they range from £270 to £600.

"Roughly 12-18% of our screening patients go on for further investigations. About 30% go on to find something they weren't aware of before, but not all these findings may necessarily be a cause for great concern and can be treated through lifestyle changes – for example, elevated blood pressure."

BMI refused to give an actual number for the 12%-18%of people who go on to further investigations as the information was "commercially sensitive".

The worst-case scenario might be a cancer discovery, while far more likely was a less serious problem like diabetes or cholesterol.

Ms Westbrook-Burr answered criticism that private screening sends the "worried well" back to the NHS by saying: "A large number of our patients are funded through private medical insurance. For those patients who seek further treatment with the NHS, we fulfil our duty of care to report back to the patient's NHS Primary Care Trust and to ensure that the patient is followed up with to receive the appropriate treatment.

"It is entirely up to the patient to decide where they receive further investigations and treatment, but we are very confident in the care provided by our consultants, clinicians and other hospital staff."

Responding to Dr Place's comments that tests do not always give a black or white result, BMI said: "We don't provide unnecessary tests; we undertake tests that have been clinically proven to benefit the overall health of a particular individual."

There is a sharp rise in screenings around January following the excesses of Christmas and the start of New Year's resolutions, which also reflects the fact that screenings are now being given as gifts.