HEALTH campaigners criticised SNP plans yesterday to secretly axe its vaunted campaign of check-ups for over-40s.

Scottish Public Health Minister Shona Robison promised to do “all that we can” when she announced the Life Begins at 40 scheme in 2011 — a project that offered comprehensive health assessments for Scottish residents turning 40.

“Prevention is better than cure and we are dedicated to doing all that we can to identify those at risk from as early as possible,” she said in a press release announcing the scheme’s launch.