The NHS Health Check is a free check-up of your overall health. It can tell you whether you’re at higher risk of getting certain health problems, such as: heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and strokes.
NHS health checks are offered to patients aged 40-74, who do not have: heart conditions, chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure, stroke or TIA or take cholesterol lowering medication. Those eligible are offered a check every 5 years and the practice sends patients invitations around their birthday.
What happens at an NHS Health Check?
Your NHS Health Check will be done by a Health Care Assistant at the practice on weekdays, or the Ireland Wood hub on Saturdays.
The check takes about 20 minutes and usually includes:
- measuring your height and weight
- measuring your waist
- a blood pressure test
- blood tests, including a cholesterol test
You’ll also be asked some questions about your health including:
- whether any of your close relatives have had any medical conditions
- if you smoke, and how much
- if you drink alcohol, and how much
- how much physical activity you do
Your age, gender and ethnicity will also be recorded.
How will I get my results?
At the end of your NHS Health Check, you’ll have the chance to discuss some of your results and how to improve your scores, including where you can get support.
This could include talking about how to:
- improve your diet
- increase the amount of exercise you do
- lose weight
- stop smoking
- reduce the amount of salt in your diet
- reduce your alcohol intake
- reduce your cholesterol
You may also be referred to local services, such as stop smoking and physical activity services, to help you make any changes.
Once your blood test results have come back to the practice, we will complete a Cardiovascular Risk score and send you your results booklet via text or email. You will also be able to view this document via the NHS app.