Aim: This qualitative study provides an insight into people's experiences of the NHS Health Check programme in practice. Method: A sample of ten participants took part in semi-structured interviews and were encouraged to talk about their experience of undergoing an NHS Health Check. Results: Two master themes emerged: understanding and awareness, and reassurance. Participants described a lack of understanding and awareness of both the existence and the purpose of the NHS Health Check. They had perceptions of the NHS Health Check as a ‘general health MOT’ and described their experience as a series of clinical tests, rather than an assessment of risk and lifestyle factors. A reassuring and confirmatory role of the NHS Health Check was highlighted with participants explaining how it had acted like a reassurance mechanism; and how they had attended their NHS Health Check appointment to confirm that they were in good health. Conclusions: The NHS Health Check is not being perceived by participants as a communication of risk of CVD, contrary to the key aim of this programme. Recommendations are made with reference to up skilling practitioners and making results meaningful.