Health Checks for those between 40-70?

[5lilducks]

Received a text this morning from gp surgery saying my health check is due and to collect a blood test form from surgery. I called the surgery and the lady said "this is something NHS UK are doing for all people aged 40-70" and that i need to do a blood test/health check. She didn't give any further details and as she sounded like she was in a hurry to hang up I didn't ask either. I am assuming this is related to Covid but not sure? Also what will they do with this info? Use it to prioritise vaccinations? Does anyone know? I find it a little unsettling tbh. It would be good if staff were trained to tell people why we have to do a test, without just asking patients to pick up a form for a health check and booking appointments, just out of the blue.

No it's not Covid related it's been around for years they'll do general bloods, bp, weight etc. More on it here

Yes, it’s been around for ages. Am 50 and never been invited for one though!

@WreckTangled thanks for the link. It's so strange as DH had never been asked to attend one (as far as he can remember). For some reason I am glad it's not related to Covid tbh.

Be happy you've had a letter! My friend is 47 and has never been called.

OP you don't have to do it if you don't find it useful.

@PaperMonster my DH has not been invited to one either. Now I am crapping myself wondering if the tests will show I am borderline diabetic or something (family history of diabetes). Looks like there'll be no cheesecake for me this weekend then

Haha have the cheesecake. They'll do a blood test that shows your average sugar levels over the past three months so it won't make much difference I don't know how they decide who they invite but it's likely to be someone who is x age on x date each time they send out the letters and it'll work on a rotation system so your dh will probably get a letter in the next few years.

I am 59 and have never had one or been offered one.

Hi I work in a surgery they are offered to people age 40-70 and are a general check up they do bloods, bp, height, weight and talk about lifestyle and risks of developing certain diseases. You will get the results afterwards and will be followed up if anything showed up. They have been around years. When we open a patient record it days on the home page if they are eligible I dont think you have one if you are already under chronic disease management eg diabetes/ hypertension ect as you already have regular checks / bloods ect.

I thought this was offered at age 40. I got invited ( of course you don’t have to go) at 60.
It was a tick box exercise done by a half-witted girl, not a health care worker. Complete waste of time, no blood test. I wouldn’t bother again.

@Hovverry

I thought this was offered at age 40. I got invited ( of course you don’t have to go) at 60. It was a tick box exercise done by a half-witted girl, not a health care worker. Complete waste of time, no blood test. I wouldn’t bother again.

Sounds like that was something different then as this includes a blood test among other things

@5lilducks - I do have an annual diabetes test though as it runs in our family. Found out I was a couple of years ago - three months later I was out of the diabetic range. I do have cheesecake now and again though!

I am with a good GP surgery and they regularly call me for this. Bloods are not a full panel, just cholesterol and glucose (check if they want fasted sample). They do weight and a not very useful BMI, calculate stroke and heart risk based on a computer programme. Friends with less organised (or less funded?) GPs in the borough never get called. Sometimes I wonder if the checks are partial funded by statins suppliers.

I don’t do it, you don’t have to. Sounds a bit of a badly worded letter

time if you've ever had abnormal results it'll be to do with QoF. It's how GP surgeries make their money, or if you're on contraception you need an annual BP reading, there's loads of different ones. Some GP's are better than others but usually this makes up the majority of their income. Or you could just have a great surgery either way its great that you get such excellent care.

@Scarby9

I am 59 and have never had one or been offered one.

Me too, and I am - to used the medical term - pretty fucked healthwise.

Plus my GP surgery is locked and you need a special appointment to get passed the first layer of door security to see one of the fully PPE-ed staff who aren't allowed to touch you.

Ah I see what @sleephead1 is saying, they're for people who are the silent background patients.

Still don't how anyone just pick anything up from my GP surgery though. It's too well guarded.

I’m mid 50s and got the text today. Had no idea what it was about - why on Earth don’t they think to give a bit of info when they invite me/us for a health test for the first time in my whole nhs life !!!

Meant to say thanks op for the thread. I was too busy ranting, above, to remember.

gosh, that's weird. DH went to get a Health Check (since he turnd 45 and had one when he was 40) & was told the HCs aren't being done any more bc of covid.

I’ve had 2 of these in the last 10 years.
Bloods to check cholesterol, kidney, liver function etc, height, weight, abdominal circumference.
They go through the results with you, advise on lifestyle, healthy BMI, smoking cessation if a smoker.
I found it very useful because it could reveal any preventable chronic ill health conditions and early intervention for health conditions.

Thanks all for the replies. Looks like it's just a general health check then. The surgery could have just explained that to me. The lady made it sound like is was very important and urgent by asking me to collect the form in the afternoon and trying to book the appointment for next week. I wonder if the health care staff at the surgery are not having much work to do due to covid, and therefore my surgery is trying to catch up with outstanding work . I've been having cheesecake every Saturday night for the last few weeks now (I don't have anything sweet during the week , so it was my only weekend treat), I hope it won't bump my sugar levels up Oh well ..

OP if you're body is struggling with insulin production then it doesn't matter if you eat cheesecake or not. Honestly. It's all carbs you need insulin for and when it comes to what needs insulin there little difference between cheesecake and pasta so I really wouldn't worry about the cheesecake, it will be what it will be and once you know what it is you can either deal with it or sigh with relief that it's all fine. And yes I expect the surgery is very quiet right now. You'll be fine

Your not you're! Need more coffee...

Just decline if you don't want to do it. Entirely your choice.