GLASGOW'S health board has criticised a ­government decision to scrap preventative health checks targeting Scotland's biggest killer.

It was announced in April that funding will end for the Keep Well programme, which included dedicated GP checks for heart disease.

The pilot programme was launched in areas of high ­deprivation in Glasgow and Lanarkshire to check for risk factors including high blood pressure and cholesterol.

Outreach workers were also taken on to target "hard to reach" patients at home and over the phone.

Research shows a "significantly higher" number of ­patients were diagnosed with coronary heart disease in ­practices running Keep Well checks than other surgeries not doing the ­extended checks.

The programme reached 151 GP practices in the city's most deprived communities and delivered more than 70,000 health checks up to March 31 2014.

The Scottish Government has said the checks will be integrated into mainstream services after they end in April 2017. Cash for other preventative programmes including health weight programme has also been scrapped.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Board papers seen by the Evening Times warn that the cuts will have a "detrimental impact" on its ability to deliver preventative care. Only 2-3% of NHS funding currently goes in to preventative health.

A board statement said: "NHSGGC Keep Well programme now funds a sizeable proportion of vital preventative and health improvement services. It is clear disinvestment in prevention activities on this scale will have a detrimental impact on our ability to deliver a coherent, integrated programme.

"This would significantly compromise NHSGGC's ability to 'turn off the tap' of chronic disease incidence and progression.

"Tackling the burden of preventable ill-health and resultant demand on healthcare services requires the balance of spend to be shifted in favour of prevention.

"Keep Well programme investment has represented a small but vital step towards rebalancing this position."

NHSGGC director of public health, Linda de Caestecker, said: "The reduction in funding will happen over three years, which will at least offer us some time to take a planned approach to redressing any shortfall in health improvement initiatives in areas of the highest deprivation."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "NHS boards will now apply the key functions of Keep Well as part of everyday work and prioritise the areas which demonstrated value for their local communities."

caroline.wilson@eveningtimes.co.uk