Free newspapers, a takeaway menu, special offers from the supermarket and, in the pile of mail cascading on to the doormat, a glossy leaflet from a health clinic, advertising a special check-up service.

“Put your mind at ease with a health check from Lifescan, the UK’s leading provider of private CT assessments,” it said, alongside pictures of glowingly healthy people. “Wouldn’t it be reassuring to be given a clean bill of health,” the leaflet went on, before asking: “Would you benefit from a Lifescan health check? Certain things can put your health at risk – smoking, for example, or if your family has a history of heart disease, stroke or cancer. So, too, can diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, and a stressful or sedentary lifestyle.”

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