NHS Health Check
The NHS Health Check is a free check-up of your overall health for people who are 40 to 74. It can tell you whether you’re at higher risk of getting certain health problems, during the check-up we’ll discuss with you how to reduce your risk of these conditions.
What is an NHS Health Check?
As we get older, we have a higher risk of developing conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease or type 2 diabetes.
Your free NHS Health Check can spot early signs and help prevent these happening to you, which means you’ll be more likely to enjoy life for longer.
The check takes around 30 minutes and usually includes:
- measuring your height and weight
- measuring your waist
- a blood pressure test – you may be asked to have this before your NHS Health Check.
- a cholesterol test, and possibly a blood sugar level test, which is usually a finger-prick blood test.
You’ll also be asked some questions about your health including:
- whether any of your close relatives have had any medical conditions
- if you smoke, and how much
- if you drink alcohol, and how much
- how much physical activity you do
- Your age, gender and ethnicity will also be recorded.
Are you eligible for a free NHS Health Check?
If you live in East Riding of Yorkshire, you may be eligible for a free NHS Health Check.
This free health check is for people who are aged 40 to 74 and do not have any of the following pre-existing conditions:
- heart disease
- chronic kidney disease
- diabetes
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- atrial fibrillation
- transient ischaemic attack
- inherited high cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolemia)
- heart failure
- peripheral arterial disease
- stroke
- are currently being prescribed statins to lower cholesterol
- previous health checks have found that you have a 20% or higher risk of getting cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years
I’m eligible and interested – how do I book?
If you are registered with a GP surgery in Driffield, you can contact our patient support team on 0330 236 9102 or by e-mail at HealthierFuturesEastRiding@xylahealth.com to find out more and book your health check, alternatively, contact your GP surgery for more information.
If your GP surgery is outside of Driffield, you can find out more about how to get your NHS Health Check here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/
How can I support my employees to have a free NHS Health Check?
We can come to your business premises based in East Riding and provide free on site NHS Health Checks to your eligible employees. Please contact our patient support team on 0330 236 9102 or by e-mail at HealthierFuturesEastRiding@xylahealth.com to find out more and book a date.
Great – I’m booked, what should I be aware of before I attend my check?
To ensure we can measure accurate readings that give you correct results, there’s a few things to consider before attending your appointment.
- Please avoid any physical activity prior to your test as this may impact your results, for example blood pressure.
- Please be aware that the health check involves a series of questionnaires on alcohol, smoking, physical activity and family history and tests including height, weight, waist measurement, blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Blood pressure is taken via a cuff fitted over your upper arm.
- Cholesterol involves a small pinprick test, (typically to your finger) to take a blood sample.
- Please avoid smoking or drinking caffeine or alcohol prior to your health check as this can impact the results.
- Please avoid headwear or wear your hair down where possible to ensure an accurate height measurement, where this is not possible our team will be able to take an approximate measurement.
- Please wear light clothing that can be removed or lifted so that the upper arm can be accessed to measure blood pressure and easy to remove shoes in order to take an accurate weight measurement.
Contact our patient support team on 0330 236 9102 or by e-mail at HealthierFuturesEastRiding@xylahealth.com to find out more and book your health check.