What is an NHS Health Check?

An NHS Health Check is designed to spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes or dementia. As we get older, we have a higher risk of developing these conditions. Having a health check can help you to understand and reduce your risk.

1. We'll send you a questionnaire asking you about your lifestyle, such as your eating and exercise habits.
2. Then, you'll have an appointment with a Healthcare Assistant (HCA) who will take some measurements such as your weight, height and blood pressure. This will also include a blood test to look at your cholesterol levels, and the levels of a diabetes marker (called HbA1c).
3. Your GP will have a look at your results and make some recommendations.
4. Finally, you'll have an appointment with a health coach, who will discuss your results with you and give you some advice about how to maintain or improve your health. Your doctor might recommend that you have some other tests, or start taking a drug to help reduce the chance of diseases in the future.

We recommend that everyone eligible has an NHS Health Check every 5 years to help spot early signs of disease and keep you healthy for longer.

Am I eligible?

The check is for people who are aged 40 to 74 who do not have any of the following pre-existing conditions:

• heart disease
• chronic kidney disease
• diabetes
• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• atrial fibrillation
• transient ischaemic attack
• inherited high cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolemia)
• heart failure
• peripheral arterial disease
• stroke
• currently prescribed a statin to lower cholesterol
• previous checks have found that you have a 20% or higher risk of getting cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years

If you would like to book an appointment, please give your surgery a call.

More information about the NHS Health Check is available on the NHS website: