The 40+ health check - can someone explain this to me like I'm 5

[ZebraLyghts]

Hi all,

I turned 40 last year, as did my friend. She recently had a health check that's being offered to 40-74 year olds I believe. They check your blood glucose, cholesterol, take some measurements and calculate your risk of stroke, heart disease etc.

I asked my GPs receptionist if I could be booked in for one of these and she said I wasn't eligible. I asked her to check why, and she called back and said it's because I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant (almost 3 years ago).
The doctor hadn't explained to her why that meant I couldn't have a check, so she asked again and he told her "it's national rules."
The NHS website says the check isn't offered to those with diabetes or heart problems, but doesn't mention gestational diabetes (obviously it increases your risk of diabetes in future but it's not an ongoing condition that I have).

I just can't understand (and neither could the receptionist) why I'm not entitled to this check up? I make sure I get my blood glucose checked yearly but I've never had a cholesterol check or any of the other stuff. I didn't even get a postnatal health check.
It just seems like a lot of women will never be invited for this health check which could screen out a lot of nasties and save lives? I actually hadn't heard of the check up til my friend mentioned it.
Anyone heard of anything similar or know why this might be the case?

I've not been offered a 40+ health mot. I haven't had gestational diabetes, but I did have pre-eclampsia in my one and only pregnancy. Other than that I have barely darkened a medics door since becoming an adult.

I'm 43, my husband (42) got offered a general health check a year or so ago and I assumed it was because maybe statistically males benefit from checking in at that age?

Are all women offered them? I'm curious now!

I’m 42 (43 in a couple of months) and not been offered one. Had been wondering about it but assumed it was maybe because I turned 40 in covid 🤷‍♀️

I had one at 40 (I'm 41 now) and also have a heart problem. Bloody test followed up with nurse practitioner who calculated my risks....

Possibly miscommunication between receptionist and doctor. If you were diabetic you would be having yearly checks. Perhaps in her eagerness she asked the question, helpfully adding the diabetes. The GP would assume you already had annual checks. The word gestational may have been omitted if the receptionist is not aware of its significance.
The list of conditions in the NHS information includes diabetes and clearly states that these are excluded because you already have regular checks.
Ring the practice and make sure that you explain in simple terms that you do not have diabetes but that suffered with gestational diabetes and do not have regular checks. Although it may be if you request blood tests, this is showing up on the system as annual diabetes checks.
If this is the case ask if you can have the full annual checks going forward if you have been flagged as diabetic.
It’s possibly due to “computer says no” because diabetes is a blanket term.

I'm nearly 43 and haven't had one.

I turned 40 during covid (spring 21) and thought maybe I hadn't been offered one cos of that. Or I wondered if they may not do them any more.

I've just had mine at 67. I was expecting the worst but pleasantly surprised

I turned 40 last year and have just had mine. I also had GD in 2 of my 3 pregnancies so I think someone isn't giving you the right information.

Lots of pharmacies also offer them, the same one as the GP surgeries.
As long as you don’t have certain pre existing conditions you are eligible if your area offer them.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/

I had one around 59. It was interesting in a good way.

Its not just women not getting the well person 40yrs test thing OP! DH can't stand anything medical related and will avoid medical checks/GP's if at all possible due to mis-management as a child. He hadn't see a GP in over 10yrs, and I finally managed to get him an appointment and persuaded him to get checked.
GP said he was a few days early for the well 40 check- therefore nothing was done at all! No height/weight, no BP check, no bloods- nothing at all! 😡

The checks are a bit of a post code lottery. I'm very nearly 60 and still waiting for the 40, 45, 50 and 55 checks. One of my friends got her first one at 62.

I have one of those problems and have been sent notifications about going for the check. Haven't actually got around to it though. I don't think it's fair if you aren't eligible.

I thought the reason for some people not being eligible was if they already had a condition which meant they were already being monitored.

Sounds like a mistake

Don't want to go for mine.
Got high blood pressure anyway so don't want to hear how likely I am to die

I've had 2 in 10 years, both initiated by my medical centre. First all was OK but now I have raised BP and cholesterol.

Find it bizarre not everybody is entitled to it.

I was invited for my first over 40 health check recently - at the age of 53! She told me I drink too much and was too fat (well, I told her and she confirmed it...) and the blood test revealed that my cholesterol is a bit high, but it was otherwise unexciting.

48 and never been offered one - haven’t been to gp in years I think they’ve forgotten I exist as I haven’t even had an invite to a smear test (I tried to book one and got an irate receptionist telling me I need to wait for the invite). DH on the other hand seems to get invited to all sorts of ‘wellness’ checks - the inequality drives me bonkers.

Is this an England and Wales thing? I'm a good 10 years past being 40 and have never heard of this! In Scotland

I had mine just before covid, but I had to request it, they didn't offer.

Same here. No diabetes. Plenty of other things so probably should be having an MOT.

Think I remember Labour bringing them in in 2009?
I had mine at 41 and the best bit was having bloods really as they seemed to actually properly check it for more than 1 or 2 things. Bit low on iron but all good for me. I was a bit confused though as even though everything was in the green I got a lecture about how I have to eat sweeteners, margarine instead of butter and cut down on cheese. I must have looked at her like she had 2 heads (can't stomach sweeteners or marg) and I made a joke about never being able to give up cheese! She went on a weird speech about how a vegan came in thinking she was all healthy but it turned out the cheese she had been substituting the lack of meat for gave her high cholesterol! I didn't want to point out vegans don't eat cheese, but the whole thing made me feel she didn't actually know much about nutrition and health eating at all. My BMI is almost on the underweight, so I had no idea why she was trying to make me take on less calories!

I don't think most people are missing much if you know how to healthy eat. The blood test was the most useful part for me, anyway.

DH was invited to his just before Covid so he decided to skip, heard nothing ever since.
I was never contacted about a health check. How do you request one? How often can you request one?
In our surgery I have to fill very confusing form for GP appointment which then triage (and then you wait for an appointment for ages)

That's the thing though, I don't have any of them

Oh wow, good to know thank you