A SMALL number of pharmacies in Cumbria are offering free NHS Health Checks this month.

Thousands of people aged 40 to 74 in the county are being invited for free checks at their GP practice over the next five years. And a number of local pharmacies are also offering the health “MOTs” in store.

They offer screening for the major causes of death in the county: heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.

Dr Rebecca Wagstaff, NHS Cumbria’s Deputy Director of Public Health, said: “These universal, free health checks will assess people’s risk of developing these conditions and pick-up them earlier, thereby reducing the chance of them turning into something more serious.”

Pharmacies participating in the South Lakeland and Eden areas are as follows: Collins & Butterworth, Main Street, Hawkshead; Staveley Pharmacy, Main Street, Staveley; Grasmere Pharmacy, 1 Oakbank, Broadgate, Grasmere; Flookburgh Pharmacy, 1 Market Street, Flookburgh; Helme Chase, Kendal; Green Tree Pharmacy, 6-8 Market Street, Kirkby Stephen.