Over 40s/50s/60s/70s health checks?

oldandhappy

Prevention is better than cure...not ever going to be cheap of course but by checking up on patients via blood tests etc problems could be found earlier...They have this attitude here in France and it does work well..look at the stats for Europe

ibizafan_2

I am about to turn 63, and have just been called for my first health check by my surgery. It seems to be a general lifestyle check with cholesterol, blood pressure etc included. As I haven't been deemed so far to be in any high risk group for anything, I am assuming that it is just routine for my area. I rarely go to the doctors but when there for something routine a few months ago, the doctor asked me what medication I was on, and seemed surprised when I said I was not on any. Is this so unusual? My mother is 85 this year and not on any medication either.

no1catman

I have in the past asked for a 'Well man' test - which includes a range of bloods, blood pressure, height & weight. I can't remember if it was the previous year or last year when I retired. Moreover, like the previous poster I too am not on any medication.

anamenottaken

milliemonster wrote: »

As an insider, I can tell you that although these health checks are recommended, GPS are incentivised to offer them to essentially pick up patients who are at risk, so for instance they receive extra payments for patients whom they diagnose as having diabetes, heart disease etc, therefore because of their workloads they are only really going to invite patients whom they have an inkling may potentially have once of these conditions rather than the worried well, which if they diagnose they will then get paid for. They will assess which patients they think may be at risk from your previous medical history, lifestyle factors etc (if they know them), sounds cynical but that's the way it is.

So if you're not deemed as in a higher risk category, it's unlikely you'd be asked to attend for a health screen until you get fairly old, or see your GP about some other illness of condition and he/she checks you over at that point.

If you just want to check your general wellbeing then you can jump on a set of scales at boots and check your BMI based on that on any one of a number of online calculators, the nhs website has lots of information regarding living healthily which to be fair your gp would only tell you to look at anyway, and if you want a cholesterol test I think boots offer these kinds of things anyway. Your pharmacy is a good resource for general wellbeing tests and information.

GP practices get payment for the checks, irrespective of any diagnoses.

Some pharmacies have been commissioned to provide the tests too and, at the GP surgery, it is unlikely to be a doctor who carries out the checks but a practice nurse.

ALL registered patients in the age group (who don't already have a relevant diagnosis) are meant to be called over a five-year period and the scheme has been operating for so long now that almost all should have been contacted by now.

elsien

I got a letter asking if I wanted to go in for a check which I meant to do something about but life got in the way. Been over 5 years now and not been called again, so I think they've given up on me.

Tigsteroonie

Both Marley and I turned 40 some years ago - no health checks offered by our surgery at the time, nor the new one we moved to last year. I cannot remember the last time I saw a GP for myself ...

sqwiffy

Yes, I was invited for this (as were my younger sisters in the same surgery) between our 45 -50 birthdays. We were able to choose whether to go into the GP or through a pharmacist. Basic check of weight, BMI and questions about eating and drinking, etc, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes. If there were any concerns, they would suggest a visit to GP.

Meadows

Our surgery told me multiple times I was due a health check but I put off/couldn't be bothered. Eventualy I went for one and it was just height, weight, cholesteral etc., I think I was told they were 5 yearly.
Hubby got a stool sample test sent in the post last year almost as soon as he was 60 (they are two yearly 60 - 74).
I should get mine in the summer, other than that I have the routine 5 yearly smear test and 3 yearly breast screening when they are due.

slowcoachme

You can be proactive and organise it yourself. Where I live, a London borough, numerous pharmacies have adverts on their windows, check on NHS website in your area where you can get it done. Our local library has a pop up centre. I had fingertip blood tests for diabetes and cholesterol, weight height, blood pressure, and general Q and A session by a very nice nurse.
I got a printout of results too.

BlueBella

I have my appointment tomorrow so will let you know what it involves. I was asked not to eat or drink for at least 2 hours before the appointment and should expect to have my bloods taken, bp, weight and height. I will also be asked about my smoking. drinking, exercise habits and family history of illnesses. I am booked in for a 15 minute session...... (Oh I turned 40 last year and received my letter asking me to make an appointment last week. I am in England too.

I wouldn't say I am in a high risk group as I am underweight, my blood pressure is low, I don't smoke, my cholesterol is fine, no history of diabetes and I don't have any symptoms of being diabetic either. The one thing I will probably get told off for is drinking half a bottle of wine each evening!