Patients at Whitmore Reans Medical Practice in Wolverhampton will be the first in the city to to be invited to trial online NHS Health Checks.

The digital health checks mean that patients will be able to complete much of their regular health 'MOT' from the comfort of their own home.

Selected patients will be able to complete digital health checks before attending a face-to-face appointment with their GP to give a blood sample and have their blood pressure checked. Some people will receive kits to take a blood sample at home.

The trial is part of a plan to increase the uptake of NHS Health Checks, which are designed to prevent stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of dementia.

NHS Health Checks are available every 5 years to those aged between 40 and 74. For the trial taking place in Wolverhampton, eligible patients may receive an invitation via SMS or email from their GP practice to complete much of their NHS Health Check online.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: "The NHS Health Check is a bit like a mid life MOT and can help prevent you from developing various health conditions by spotting any early signs of problems and making lifestyle changes.

"We want to increase the number of eligible adults in our city who take up the opportunity of having their health check when it's due, and we are pleased to be part in this trial, which will give some of our residents the chance to complete much of their NHS Health Check from the comfort of their own home.

"We think this will prove popular by people who are time poor or, for whatever reason, are unlikely to attend a face to face health check with their GP. It will also help to free up GP time for more urgent appointments."