NHS Health Checks
Your free NHS Health Check can help spot early signs of health problems and identify changes you can make or support you can access to reduce your risk, helping you to stay healthy.
What is an NHS Health Check?
An NHS Health Check is a free check-up of your overall health. It can tell you whether you are at higher risk of getting health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and stroke.
During the check-up, you will discuss how to reduce your risk of these conditions.
Those aged over 65 will also be told about the symptoms of dementia.
How do I get an NHS Health Check?
If you are aged 40 to 74 and have no pre-existing health conditions, you should be invited to an NHS Health Check by your GP practice every 5 years.
If you think that you might be eligible but have not been invited to a check, please contact your GP surgery to find out if they offer NHS Health Checks or contact Healthy Sandwell to find out where you can get an NHS Health Check in the local area.
Who is eligible for an NHS Health Check?
NHS Health Checks are offered to people aged 40-74, providing they do not have any of the pre-existing conditions:
- Heart disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Atrial fibrillation
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
- Inherited high cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolemia)
- Heart failure
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Stroke
- Currently being prescribed statins to lower cholesterol
- Previous checks have found that you have a 20% or high risk of getting cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years.
As long as you remain eligible for an NHS Health Check, you should be invited every five years.
What happens at the check?
Is there anything to be worried about?
Thousands of people in Sandwell have already had an NHS Health Check. NHS Health Checks have the potential to lower your chances of developing serious health problems, but it is completely your choice whether or not to have one. If you have any concerns about your NHS Health Check or what your results could mean, you’ll have the chance to talk them through at your appointment.
What are the benefits of getting a check?
Other languages and formats
Information on the NHS Health Checks is available in a variety of languages and formats, including:
For other languages or formats, please visit the NHS Health Check webpage.
What if I am not registered with a Sandwell GP practice?
If you live in Sandwell and are not registered with a GP practice, we would encourage you to register with your local practice. Registering is free and does not require any ID, proof of address or immigration status. For more information about how to register with a GP surgery, please visit the NHS website.
If you are registered with a GP practice outside of Sandwell, you may be able to get your NHS Health Check there.
How will my data be used?
To help us identify and contact those eligible for an NHS Health Check, we use Health Diagnostics, a third-party software provider that is subject to industry-standard security.
For more information about how your data is used, please visit the Health Diagnostics website.
Who can I contact if I have any questions or concerns?
- For any questions about your NHS Health Check, eligibility, appointments, results or follow-up, please contact your GP practice
- For general feedback, please complete the feedback form that is included in your patient report.