NHS Health Checks

What is a NHS Health Check?

An NHS Health Check is a free health check that looks at the health of your heart and blood vessels (your cardiovascular health).

It helps to identify whether you are you are at a higher risk of developing certain health conditions, including:

During your appointment, you will also have the opportunity to discuss practical ways to reduce your risk, and to improve your long-term health.

If you are aged 65 or over, you may also be given information about symptoms of dementia to be aware of, as some forms of dementia share similar risk factors. Where appropriate, we may also signpost you to local support services.

Who is eligible for a NHS Health Check?

The NHS Health Check is for anyone aged 40 to 74 who do not already have any of the following 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 being prescribed medicines such as statins 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 already have one of these conditions, you will be monitored via the Surgery, or by your specialist team.

If you are aged 40 to 74 and do not have an existing long-term health condition, you are eligible for an NHS Health Check every 5 years.

If you think you are eligible but have not received an invitation, please contact the surgery directly to discuss this with one of our Reception Team.

What happens at an NHS Health Check?

Your NHS Health Check will be carried out by a trained healthcare professional, and will typically last 20 to 30 minutes.

This may include:

  • measuring your height and weight
  • measuring your waist
  • checking your blood pressure
  • a cholesterol test, and sometimes a blood sugar test

You may be asked to have a blood test before, or at the time of your NHS Health Check.

During the appointment, you will also be asked some general questions about your health and lifestyle, including:

  • whether any of your close family members have had certain medical conditions
  • whether you smoke, and how much
  • whether you drink alcohol, and how much
  • how much physical activity you do

Your age, sex and ethnicity will also be recorded, as these can affect your health risk.

What comes next?

You will usually be given your NHS Health Check results during or shortly after your appointment.

You will be told your cardiovascular risk score. This shows your risk of developing certain heart or circulation problems, such as:

  • heart disease
  • stroke
  • type 2 diabetes
  • kidney disease

This risk is calculated over the next 10 years an may be described as low, moderate or high.

Everyone’s cardiovascular risk increases with age. This means your risk score may be higher at the time of your next NHS Health Check, even if your test results remain the same.

Some factors that affect your risk cannot be changed, such as your age, ethnicity, and family history. Other important factors can be improved, including smoking, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, physical activity, and weight.

What your results might include:

Your NHS Health Checks will usually consist of:

  • your body mass index (BMI) score
  • your blood pressure
  • your cholesterol levels
  • an assessment of your alcohol intake
  • an assessment of your physical activity
  • an assessment of your risk of diabetes

At the end of your NHS Health Check, you will have time to discuss your results and talk about ways to improve your health, if needed.

This could include support with:

  • improving your diet
  • increasing physical activity
  • losing weight
  • stopping smoking
  • reducing salt in your diet
  • reducing your alcohol intake
  • reducing your cholesterol

You may also be referred to local support services, such as smoking cessation or physical activity programmes, to help you make these changes.

Benefits of the NHS Health Check

The NHS Health Check is not a test that you pass or fail. It is an opportunity to understand your current health and identify ways to reduce your future risk of illness.

The NHS Health Check aims to lower your risk of developing conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, such as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease, by identifying risk factors early.

Many of the warning signs for these conditions, including high blood pressure and raised cholesterol, do not cause symptoms. Early identification of these issues can allow you time to act before they cause problems, and benefit your overall long-term health.

The check helps you understand whether you are at increased risk and what steps you can take to improve your health. This may include small lifestyle changes, support services, or medication where appropriate.