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Health checks

What does the check involve?

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NHS Health Check aims to help you lower your risk of four common but often preventable diseases: heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and kidney disease. It’s for adults aged between 40 and 74 who have not already been diagnosed with any one of those conditions.

We are always trying to improve our service.  Tell us about your Health Check experience by completing our survey. 

What does the NHS Health Check involve?
Why should I have a NHS Health Check?
Who can have a NHS Health Check?
Have long will a NHS Health Check take?
Do I need to pay for the NHS Health Check?
What do the results of the NHS Health Check mean?
What happens after the NHS Health Check?
Where can I find more information about NHS Health Checks?
Where can I get a NHS Health Check?

What does the NHS Health Check involve?

There are two parts to an NHS Health Check. First, you will be asked a few simple questions and have a few straight forward health tests. These will show your risk of developing four diseases: heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and kidney disease.

The check will take around 20-30 minutes:

  • You’ll be asked some simple questions about your family history, and any medication you're taking. 

  • Your height, weight, sex, ethnicity and age will be recorded. 

  • Your blood pressure will be taken. 

  • A simple blood test will check your cholesterol level.

Your body mass index (BMI) will be calculated. BMI is a measure of whether you're a healthy weight for your height.

After this, a trained health care professional will give you your results, and explain what they mean. In some instances, in GP practices, blood tests may have to be sent away for analysis, meaning some people will not get their test results immediately and may be asked to return at a later date for this discussion.

If you have high blood pressure, or if you have a high BMI, you will be offered a further check for diabetes. This will involve returning for a fasting blood glucose test. You will need to avoid food or liquids (other than plain water) for eight hours before this test to get an accurate measure. 

You’ll be given advice and support on maintaining good health, and on lifestyle changes that will help you to improve your health. If necessary, you’ll be referred to your GP for further assessment and may be offered treatments that will help: for example, medicine to lower raised blood pressure.  

Why should I have a NHS Health Check?

The health check will assess your risk of cardiovascular disease which is the most common killer in Hampshire. Most deaths under 75 years are preventable and therefore, everyone can decrease there risk in some way. While there are some risk factors that can’t be changed, for example, your risk increases with age, there is a lot you can do to reduce your risk though. You can:

  • Maintain a healthy weight 

  • Be physically active 

  • Eat a healthy and balanced diet

  • Cut down on alcohol 

  • Don’t smoke

If you're at higher risk, you may also be offered treatments by your GP, such as medicines to lower raised blood pressure or cholesterol. You may also be offered NHS support to help you stop smoking or lose weight.

These changes can help you to improve your health, and prevent a disease that may otherwise have developed.

Who can have a NHS Health Check?

If you live in Hampshire, or are registered with a Hampshire based GP surgery, are aged between 40 and 74, `haven't already been diagnosed with heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, hypertension, atrial fibrillation or peripheral artery disease or had a stroke and you have not had a health check within the past five years; you can have a NHS Health Check. Adults who have already been diagnosed with these conditions will not be invited for the check, and their condition will continue to be managed as usual by their GP.

If you’re concerned about your health, don't wait until your NHS Health Check to do something about it. Go to your GP as you would normally.

How long will the NHS Health Check take?

The check will usually take between 20 and 30 minutes and you will usually be provided with your results at the end of the check. 

Do I need to pay for the NHS Health Check?

No, the check is free to the eligible population

What do the results of the NHS Health Check mean?

The results of your NHS Health Check will give you a clearer picture of your health, and your risk of developing one of the vascular diseases (heart disease, stroke or kidney disease), and of type 2 diabetes (which can lead to vascular disease). There will be plenty of time to discuss these results, and you'll be offered personalised advice on how to maintain or improve your health.

If you have a check in a community setting, you will also be asked to consent to the results being sent to your GP. 

What happens after the NHS Health Check?

If your results show that you have a high risk of Cardiovascular Disease, you will be referred to your GP for further assessment and management of your risk.

Where can I find out more information about NHS Health Checks? 

See the national leaflet at: http://www.nhs.uk/Planners/NHSHealthCheck/Pages/NHSHealthCheck.aspx

See the national website at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_097495.pdf

For local information you can phone 02380 627444 and ask for the Vascular Prevention Programme Coordinator.


Where can I get a NHS Health Check?

You may be invited for a health check by your GP.  Please check the list below to see if your GP surgery is offering FREE NHS Health Checks.

GP surgeries in the Havant & Waterlooville area
Call them today to book your appointment
Havant Surgery 023 92 475 010
Waterside Medical Practice 023 92 466 225
The Curlew Practice 023 92 475 778
The Staunton Surgery 023 92 474 351
Stakes Lodge Surgery 08444 778 718
Cowplain Family Practice 023 92 263 138
The Elms Practice 023 92 466 216
Queenswood Surgery 023 92 263 491
Park Lane Medical Centre 023 92 474 777
Greywells Surgery 023 92 474 448
The Village Practice (Cowplain Surgery) 08444 770 942
Emsworth Practice 08444 778 723
Bosmere Medical Practice 023 92 476 941
Waterbrook Medical Practice 023 92 257321
Denmead Doctors Surgery 0844 477 8701
Forest End Surgery 023 92 264 088
The Homewell Practice 023 92 482 124
Middle Park Medical Centre 023 92 611 055

GP surgeries in the Gosport area  
Stoke Road Medical Practice 023 92 581 529
Bury Road Surgery 023 92 580 363
Forton Medical Centre 023 92 583 333
Brune Medical Centre 023 92 794 169
Brockhurst Medical Centre 023 92 583 564
Lee-On-The-Solent Medical Practice 023 92 550 220
Manor Way Surgery 023 92 553 161
Rowner Health Centre 023 92 513 143
Gosport Medical Centre 023 92 583 302
Waterside Medical practice 023 92 583 344
Bridgemary Medical Centre 01329 232 446

GP surgeries in the East Hampshire area  
Rowlands Castle Surgery 023 92 412 846

GP surgeries in the Rushmoor area  
Giffard Drive Surgery 01252 541 282
Southlea Surgery 01252 344 868
Jenner House Surgery 01252 548 141
The Wellington Practice 01252 335 460
Victoria Practice 01252 335 445
Alexander House Surgery 01252 541 155
The Border Practice 01252 344 434
Alexandra Surgery 01252 332 210
Southwood Practice 01252 371 715

The number of GP surgeries who offer NHS Health Checks will increase as the Programme is rolled out.  Health Checks will also be offered in different community locations across the county, as these become available they will be advertised on this website.