NHS Health Check

[RachC2021]

I’m almost 5 years since my last one. Would it be unreasonable of me to request one now, given how busy the NHS is and the event blood test shortage, or should I just wait? I wasn’t called up automatically last time, I had to ask.

• recent blood test

We’re clearing the backlog on our health checks, and if it’s not even 5 years since your last one you really need to wait until you’re due.

Obviously if you’ve got a specific health concern make an appointment with a GP or nurse practitioner, but health checks are screening and aren’t really for problems.

Ask your GP. They will know if and when they can do it.

Thank you both. I’m about a month before I get to exactly 5 years.

At a risk of sounding rude, please don’t call your GP at the moment to ask about it. They are overwhelmed.

We are inundated with work and it’s flu season, as well as Covid booster time. As I said unless you have a specific concern there is no urgency for your health check. It can wait until the beginning of next year. They don’t have to be done spot on the five year mark.

They don’t have to be done spot on the five year mark.

Indeed they dont. They ought to be done every couple of years at least.

FIVE years???

Well if the NHS had unlimited resources they’d be done every other year. But it doesn’t so they’re not.

People can get them done privately if they want. Or maybe buy a home BP monitor, exercise, eat well to maintain a healthy weight and stop smoking.

Living healthily is no substitute for regular physicals...

I never even knew these existed and don't know anyone who had had one via the NHS.
Dh and I are 48y and never received a letter about them even once.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/

The link says almost everyone aged 40y up should be sent a letter every five years

@Sidge

At a risk of sounding rude, please don’t call your GP at the moment to ask about it. They are overwhelmed.

We are inundated with work and it’s flu season, as well as Covid booster time. As I said unless you have a specific concern there is no urgency for your health check. It can wait until the beginning of next year. They don’t have to be done spot on the five year mark.

You don’t sound rude to me. I’ll wait until January before I contact my surgery.

I have learned that I need to be somewhat pushy regards these things, otherwise I would end up like a later poster still waiting for my first one many years after I should have had one.