The NHS Health Check is a free health check. It can help identify whether you’re at higher risk of developing conditions such as:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Stroke
During your appointment, you will also receive advice on ways to lower your risk of these health problems.
If you’re aged 65 or over, you’ll be given information about symptoms of dementia to watch for, as some forms of dementia share similar risk factors with these conditions.
Who is the NHS health check for?
The NHS Health Check is offered to people aged 40 to 74 who do not already have any of the following conditions:
- Heart disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Atrial fibrillation
- Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
- Inherited high cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolaemia)
- Heart failure
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Stroke
- Are currently taking cholesterol lowering medicines such as statins
- Or have previously been found to have a 20% or higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years
If you’ve already been diagnosed with any of these conditions, you should receive regular check ups as part of your ongoing care. Your healthcare team can provide more information about what to expect and how often you’ll be reviewed.
How do I get an NHS Health Check?
If you’re aged 40 to 74 and do not have a pre existing health condition, you should receive an invitation for an NHS Health Check every 5 years from your GP practice or local council.
If you believe you’re eligible but haven’t been invited, contact your GP surgery to check whether they offer NHS Health Checks, or get in touch with your local council to find out where you can have one in your area.
What happens at an NHS Health Check?
Your NHS Health Check is usually carried out by a healthcare professional, such as a pharmacist, a nurse at your GP surgery, or a healthcare assistant.
The appointment takes around 20 to 30 minutes and typically includes:
- Measuring your height and weight
- Measuring your waist
- A blood pressure check
- A cholesterol test and possibly a blood sugar test
You may be asked to have a blood test either before or during your NHS Health Check.
You’ll also be asked some questions about your general health, including:
- Whether any close relatives have certain medical conditions
- Whether you smoke and how much
- How much alcohol you drink
- How physically active you are
Your age, sex and ethnicity will also be recorded as part of the assessment.
Your result
You’ll normally receive your NHS Health Check results during your appointment or shortly afterwards.
As part of your results, you’ll be given a cardiovascular risk score. This score estimates your chance of developing a heart or circulation problem, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes or kidney disease, over the next 10 years.
Your healthcare professional may explain this score as low, moderate, or high risk.
Because cardiovascular risk naturally increases with age, your score may be higher at your next NHS Health Check, even if your test results remain the same.
Some risk factors—like your age, ethnicity, and family history—cannot be changed.
However, many key factors in your risk score can be improved, including whether you smoke, your cholesterol levels, and your blood pressure.
At the end of your NHS Health Check, you’ll have the chance to discuss your results and how to improve your scores, including where you can get support.