To think if I want a blood pressure and cholesterol test I should be able to have one

[muttrat]

Without having to wait until next Friday for a telephone conversation with my gp to discuss why before they let me book an appointment?

I'm 51, going through menopause, my grandmother died of heart disease. I want to start running but want to get everything checked first.

Does your surgery not do general health check ups with the nurse?

That's what I was hoping for. I told the receptionist I wanted a blood and cholesterol test and she said I'd have to book a call back from the gp next Friday

How very odd.

£15 Lloyd's pharmacy.

Good thing to get done, but you'll get in much quicker this way. (And leave an NHS appt free for someone who has to wait 2 weeks while in pain/distress )

Kudos for starting running.

£5 for a cholesterol test at Tesco pharmacy and the BP test is free. Or it's £10 for a health check.

Pay for it.

I was waiting in doctor's and in came a couple (with walking poles...) insisting on cholesterol and blood tests because they had started a new diet and wanted a baseline check. Fgs, no wonder the NHS is in trouble if people won't fork out for a simple service the pharmacy offers.

Just go to the chemist

It's £20 for a health check in Tesco madam.

There will be people who are a higher priority and will need appointments. Just go to the chemist.

I don't want to pay for it! I thought private health care was undermining the NHS??

Well just wait then!

It's hardly a luxury. It's a crucial pice of diagnostic information which could help people make really positive changes which will save the NHS millions in the long run!

If you 'don't want to' as opposed to 'can't pay' then you wait.

It's more expensive to waste the GPS time with a call back surely?

It'll save the NHS immediately if you pay for it. You're very entitled. People will be waiting for appointments while in pain. Your need isn't immediately essential.

Pay for it?
Unfortunately the NHS doesn't provide an 'on demand'service.

And I suspect that inappropriate use of resources is a bigger issue than private healthcare

It will probably be ok but if patients were allowed to just book in for anything they liked the system would be overwhelmed. Some patients would want bloods checked every month 'just in case' when they weren't indicated. GPs are the gatekeepers of these services. Also a bit of counselling may be needed including risk scoring and a discussion about lifestyle.

Margot its £10 for a Tesco health check. I work for them

Wow, entitled much. You have a choice, pay for a non essential service or wait and see if the GP feels it warrants being done on the NHS.

Well you have 2 choices don't you. Wait forGP call or pay at a pharmacy.

It's not difficult.

Ffs - there are people on waiting lists for operations which are hardly a luxury either but they'll be waiting a damn sight longer than a few days. Get a bit of perspective.

YABVU. Either pay or wait a week.

img.tesco.com/todayattesco/health/archive/0908_get_yourself_checked.shtml

I was going off this madam - says £5 in Jan, normally £20? I was interested in getting one which is why I googled.

Oh bloody hell sod off with all the high and mighty "pay for it yourself" replies.

She's asking for a simple check up, not plastic surgery.

The NHS is not crumbling because of BP and cholesterol tests.

It is a waste of time and effort booking a call with a GP when a nurse appointment could be arranged to just do it.

Your GP will want to know why you want a blood and cholesterol test. Context us very important as it could flag up other health issues that need addressing. Your GP practice is acting responsibly.

If you don't like that they pay for it yourself.