NHS Health Checks overview
Are you at risk of developing heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, or certain types of dementia?
The good news is these conditions can often be prevented – even if you have a family history. A free NHS Health Check helps you spot early warning signs and gives you personalised advice to reduce your risk and stay healthy.
If you are aged over 65, you will be told about symptoms of dementia to look out for. Some types of dementia have the same risk factors as these conditions. You can also be given details of local services that help with dementia.
Who can have an NHS Health Check
You can have an NHS Health Check if:
- You are aged 40 to 74
- You live in Somerset or are registered with a Somerset GP.
- You haven’t had an NHS Health Check in the last 5 years
- You haven’t been diagnosed with any of the following:
- Heart disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Atrial fibrillation
- Transient ischaemic attack (mini stroke)
- Inherited high cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolemia)
- Heart failure
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Stroke
- You are not currently prescribed statins to lower cholesterol
- You haven’t previously had a check showing a QRISK score of 20% or higher, indicating a high risk of cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years
What happens during the health check
The NHS Health Check is a 20 to 30-minute appointment with a trained healthcare professional. It includes:
- Simple questions about you and your health, family history, and any medication you take
- Measurements of your height, weight and waist
- Blood pressure check
- Quick blood test for cholesterol (results in about 5 minutes)
- Lifestyle questions about smoking, alcohol and exercise
You will receive:
- A note of your results (shared with GP if check completed by outreach or pharmacy)
- Your QRISK score – an estimate of your risk of having a cardiovascular event (such as a heart attack or stroke) in the next 10 years
- Personalised advice based on your health profile
- Referrals if needed:
- Blood test for Type 2 Diabetes
- Kidney function test if blood pressure is high
- GP referral to discuss medication options
- Information about local health improvement services
Why it matters
NHS Health Checks help identify early signs of heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and stroke – giving you the chance to take action before serious problems develop.
Your results can be improved by making small changes to your daily routine. For example:
- Regular physical activity can lower blood pressure and cholesterol
- Healthy eating can reduce your risk of diabetes
- Lifestyle changes can also boost your mental wellbeing
Find an NHS Health Check location
You can find location near you and book your free NHS Health Check today.
If you already had your health check
Now it’s the time to act on your results.
Explore Local health services to help you make lasting changes and stay healthy.
For further resources, please visit our After your Health Check page.