Where can you get your vitamin levels checked?

[iamnatalia83]

I would like to get a general test to review my vitamin levels and see if I am low or even deficient of any vitamins. I don't have any symptoms, but struggle knowing which vitamins are right for me and would like to make sure I am on track with the recommended vitamins for my body. I don't want to use NHS money so wouldn't go to GP, but wondering if you get this test done anywhere else?

I'm sure a private GP would take your money for an MOT blood test!
Unless you don't eat a balanced diet though, don't get any sun at all and cover up and have symptoms of a deficiency, then most Dr's wouldn't think a blood test was necessary. Why do you think you aren't getting the correct vitamins?

If you google you’ll find private hospitals like Spire and Nuffield that do it.

You might benefit from seeing a registered dietician if you have concerns about your diet and nutritional needs in general.

If you’re not having any symptoms, eat a balanced diet and get outside, you shouldn’t have any major issues.

If you haven't got any symptoms of vitamin deficiency, don't bother!

It's about £2-300 odd quid and that's not for all of them. You'd be better having an appointment with a nutritionalist and figuring out with then which are most likely to be low for you and supplementing those or adjusting your diet for those.

Why wouldn't you use NHS services for this? The NHS is not and should not be just where poor people get their healthcare with richer people going elsewhere. Treating it like that is buying into the tory narrative which will get it defunded and disbanded.

If you have a good reason for suspecting you need vitamin levels checked e.g if you have any symptoms which might be attributable to a deficiency then ask at your GP - it doesn't need to take up any GP time, taking blood is a nurse procedure and you get back the results a couple of days later.

I had some weird symptoms, got a blood test on Wednesday and found out today that yes I do have a deficiency. Treatment is now being arranged. That's what the NHS is there for and we all pay in proportionally to our income and use services as needed according to our health.

Superdrug do blood tests, but I'm not sure if they would cover all vitamins, or if anyone else would to be honest. But definitely B12 and D and Folate. Possibly Magnesium.
Also a company called Blue Horizon, and another called Medichecks.
All of these would cost less than a Private Hospital or Healthcare Provider.

Sounds great, the reality with our NHS GP is that you can rarely get an appointment, and if you can, the appointment is spent trying to convince you that you don’t need tests/referral. It’s no wonder people go private, I don’t even bother calling now. We pay for private GP appointments as we need them and have insurance. I’d love the NHS to be reliable and I’m not a Tory, but I’m not willing for my families health to suffer by waiting for the NHS to feel we’re worthy of seeing someone.

Yeah this is what I was thinking. I just pop a multivit bit wondering if I need more iron and am I bit d deficient in any way? I was thinking Holland and Barratt but they don't say anything on website.

I just take a basic multi vit. Confused regarding vitamin d and iron and the others. Would just be nice to know as prevention is better than the cure ha! I eat ok diet but not perfect and I don't think I get as much sun as I should. There are so many vitamins on the shelf, I stand there thinking am I taking enough vitamin d and b vitamins etc etc

Blue horizon

Hm, I don't think Holland and Barrett do them. Any of the ones I mentioned should give you what you are looking for, The Nutritional one from Superdrug us £179, which will include the blood draw (but their website is hard to use for selecting which store); the others you will need to arrange blood to be taken, which can actually be done at Superdrug as well.