Help design a digital version of the Vital 5 check
We’re exploring what people across South East London think about the Vital 5 Check, including whether a digital option could work alongside existing face‑to‑face and kiosk checks. We’re creating a digital version of the Vital 5 Check to make it easier for people to look after their health, and we’d like your help to design it.
If you’d like to get involved, this page explains what the Vital 5 Check is, why we’re developing a digital version, and how you can take part.
What is the Vital 5 Check?
You or someone you know may have already had a Vital 5 Check. It’s a free, easy to access health check delivered by NHS-approved practitioners in selected pharmacies and other venues across south east London.
In around 5-30 minutes, the check helps you get a picture of how healthy you are by looking at five important areas for your health and wellbeing - known as the Vital 5:
At the end, you get your own Vital 5 passport which gives you a good indication of your overall health and what you can do to improve it. You’ll get practical tips to try, and information about where to find support if you’d like help with any of your Vital 5.
If we tackle these five areas together, we can improve health for everyone and help make sure no one is left behind. That's why we're now developing a digital version of the Vital 5 Check.
Why a digital version?
The digital Vital 5 Check will be available alongside in-person checks and will mean more people can complete a check wherever they are and at a time that suits them.
It will also help us better connect information about people's health across NHS services and teams. This can give us a clearer picture of what local communities need, so we can plan and provide the right care and support.
How you can get involved?
The Vital 5 Health Check team has been listening to the views of local people to help them design a digital version of the Vital 5 Check. They have carried out a survey, had one to one conversations and held the first co-design workshop.
Take part in a codesign workshop
The team is looking for local residents to take part in a second online co-design workshop in August to help us design the future of the Vital 5 health check service.
During the workshop, you'll have the opportunity to explore early ideas and designs for a digital Vital 5 service. Together with the team, you'll look at different ways people could complete a health check: from face-to-face appointments to digital and hybrid journeys, and we'd like to hear what you think would work best, what wouldn't, and why.
Your feedback will help us create a service that is simple, accessible and works for people with different needs and preferences.
Interested? Please email the team.
Who are they looking for?
They’re keen to hear from a wide range of residents to ensure the service works for everyone. We're particularly looking for people with a mix of:
- Ages (18+)
- Genders: all
- Digital confidence and experience (from those who rarely use technology to those who use it every day)
- Health backgrounds, including people living with long-term conditions and those without
- Experience of using NHS or community health services
- Different communities and life experiences
You don't need any technical knowledge or experience with Vital 5 to take part, your everyday experiences and opinions are what matter most.
If you're interested in helping shape the future of this service, they'd love to hear from you.
Findings from the survey and one to one conversations
Thank you if you took part in the survey earlier in the summer. The team received responses from people of different ages and backgrounds, and your feedback has been incredibly valuable.
The survey showed that while many people like the idea of having the option to complete parts of a health check digitally, they also told us that human support remains very important. Many residents said they would like the flexibility to access a check in different ways, whether that's in person, online, or through a combination of both. You also highlighted the importance of having someone available to explain results, answer questions and provide advice where needed.
Residents also told us that any digital service should be easy to use, secure and accessible, with clear information about what happens next after the health check, including support and referral options where appropriate.
The findings also reflect what we heard in the one to one conversations where the importance of trusted human interaction was highlighted. Staff and community ambassadors are essential in encouraging participation, explaining results, and guiding individuals on steps to improve their health. Blood pressure checks, in particular, effectively engage residents and initiate broader conversations about prevention.
The engagement has identified opportunities to improve how services operate. Current delivery often relies on paper-based processes, manual referrals, and follow-up actions that require residents to take the next step. Staff consistently noted that digital tools could reduce administrative tasks, enhance data capture, support referrals, and make it easier for people to access and understand their results.
The team looked at the experiences of individuals facing barriers to healthcare and health inequities influenced by socioeconomic challenges. Ensuring future services are accessible and inclusive remains a key priority.
As the team enters the next phase, they will test how digital and face-to-face services can work together to support prevention more effectively. The aim is to maintain trusted relationships while enabling staff to focus more on supporting people and less on administrative tasks through technology.
By combining community-based delivery with well-designed digital support, we aim to improve access, strengthen follow-up, and empower more people to take action for their health and well-being.
Next steps
Your feedback and recommendations will help us to design a digital service that works well for everyone. We’ll also be speaking with health and care professionals to make sure the service works in practice. Once we’ve gathered enough insight, we will:
- design and test a prototype digital Vital 5 Check
- test it with residents and staff
- improve it based on feedback
- scale it up so more people can try it
- roll out a final version more widely
