Why refer a patient for a health check?
Everyone has a chance of developing heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of dementia. The NHS Health Check has been specifically designed to identify health risks, like the aforementioned, earlier.
After the patient’s health check, they will be given advice on the best action to take to lower any risks and create a healthier lifestyle. This could include anything from diet to exercise or even certain medicines to control blood pressure.
Every year, the NHS Health Check is expected to help:
- Save 650 lives
- Prevent 1,600 heart attacks and strokes
- Prevent 4,000 people from developing diabetes
- Detect at least 20,000 cases of diabetes or kidney disease earlier
What will the health check cover?
It’s a 20-30 minute session where patients will be given straightforward health tests such as measurements of weight, height and blood pressure. They will also be asked questions about their family’s medical history and their own medical history and lifestyle.
How can EWS help?
Our team is available to complete outreach health checks for when GPs need some extra support. To refer your patients for a health check, simply fill out the form at the bottom of the page.
Who is eligible?
Those between 40 and 74 years old will be invited to an NHS Health Check every five years, as long as they don’t 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
- currently being prescribed statins to lower cholesterol
- previous checks have found that you have a 20% or higher risk of getting cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years
If a patient is younger, then they can still be referred to if there is particular concern about their health and their current lifestyle choices.