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Original poster

NHS Health Check

23 replies

Widowspeak · 16/01/2019 19:14

I had the above done last week and have to go for a blood test as part of this test in the morning.

Has anyone had the NHS health check done because I was just wondering if the blood test would be a fasting or a non-fasting one? If it turns out to be a fasting one does the fasting bit just refer to food or does it include not drinking as well? I hate the thought of going out without my morning coffee. Thanks.

OP posts:

MyGuideJools · 16/01/2019 19:16

mine was non fasting.

MyGuideJools · 16/01/2019 19:16

if it's fasting it will state it on the blood form.

4forkssake · 16/01/2019 19:19

When I had one I didn't know it was being done (they tagged it on to another blood test I was having which was non fasting). I had to go back for another test when the results were back as the diabetes test result was high. The banana & glass of orange juice I had before the test clearly impacted on the results (i get very faint when I give blood so always have something before the test). So although I don't think it needs to be fasting, if you do fast you won't need to go back for a false test.

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Original poster

Widowspeak · 16/01/2019 19:24

I wasn't given a blood test form, I was just told to make an appointment for a blood test with the receptionist.

I think I'll have my coffee in the morning and take a chance.

Thanks for your replies.

OP posts:

grinchypants · 16/01/2019 20:00

Nhs health check is non fasting tests

cptartapp · 16/01/2019 20:09

We get our patients to fast (practice nurse) for 10-12 hours. Only water.

cptartapp · 16/01/2019 20:10

We also do the bloods first and the follow up later so we can discuss the blood results with the patient and calculate the CVD risk with the up to date results.

ElizabethDarcy88 · 16/01/2019 20:17

Hello, I do these health checks as I'm a healthcare assistant. I take it you had a finger prick test last week? And the reading was raised? If so then if you were at my surgery we would be asking you for a fasting blood test as it gives the most accurate result. But it can be done non fasting. But the person who did the health check last week should have told you.

Original poster

Widowspeak · 16/01/2019 20:30

ElizabethDarcy88 Hi, no finger prick test. Just being asked a lot of questions about my lifestyle and family history.

OP posts:

ElizabethDarcy88 · 16/01/2019 21:00

Oh that's odd as we can't complete the check without the cholesterol test result. But it must be the way they do it at your surgery.

ElizabethDarcy88 · 16/01/2019 21:01

Oh bad in that case I would say have your coffee and whatever as they must be doing a random cholesterol

ElizabethDarcy88 · 16/01/2019 21:04

"Oh and".. not "oh bad"

ninjawarriorsocks · 16/01/2019 21:09

I had that the health check a couple of weeks ago and they only did the fingertip prick test - didn’t take any blood!

grinchypants · 16/01/2019 22:20

Maybe different in different places then, we also test for cholesterol but non fasting tests.

Nothingoriginalhere · 16/01/2019 22:32

I do these as part of my job and we do fasting lipids( cholesterol) glucose and liver function tests. Week before the measurements and lifestyle part.its done by venous bloods not finger prick at our surgery

cptartapp · 17/01/2019 06:37

Our venous bloods include full blood count, liver and kidney function, thyroid , fasting glucose and lipids. I wouldn't have thought a fingerprick blood tells you much. It's the breakdown of the lipid profile for example thats important (balance of good and bad) not the overall number.

Drunkandstupidagain · 17/01/2019 06:41

What is the NHS health check? Can anyone have this done?

LittleLebowski · 17/01/2019 06:56

It may depend on where you live and your local surgery- I believe it's from when you get past 40 you receive an email "NHS health check invitation". I got one a couple of months after my 45th birthday, but it's been more random for other people I know not at the same health centre. I had the blood test and a general health chart with the nurse, then some folllow up advice because my cholesterol was a bit high.

BalloonSlayer · 17/01/2019 07:02

I think you have to be over 45? Drunkandstupidagain.

Mine was great!

I was expecting to be told off for everything but that was far from the case. I am bang in the middle of the normal weight BMI but she told me that "for my age" I am actually slightly underweight as over 50s are supposed to have a higher BMI. First I'd heard of it but it made my bloody YEAR, I tell you! She measured my waist and the number she gave me I couldn't get at home if I pulled the tape measure so tight I was ready to pass out! Presumably they didn't want to find a lot of problems during these checks and had been instructed to err on the positive side. Bit of a shame I turned out to have high blood pressure then but hey!

cptartapp · 17/01/2019 20:47

Eligible aged 40-74 every five years if not already on a chronic disease register, eg, diabetes.

WhoNose88 · 17/01/2019 20:58

DH had it done last week and it was fasting for the cholesterol and glucose blood tests. If you drink tea it's not fasting, fasting is water only (from my time in a hospital biochemistry lab).

Jackyjill6 · 17/01/2019 22:49

I've never been offered one of these! Is my surgery particularly stingy do you think?

Nothingoriginalhere · 18/01/2019 05:29

Not all surgeries offer them, they either opt in or out, and get paid per patient that takes them up on it. It's not a lot of money for the time it takes and generally those that attend ate interested in their health and look after it anyway.

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