Health Checks (England)
Supporting Health, Wellbeing & Positive Futures
Regular health checks help identify health problems early, reduce the risk of serious illness, and support people to live healthier, longer lives. The NHS offers a range of health checks throughout life, from newborn examinations and childhood reviews to adult health checks and long-term condition monitoring.
This guide explains the different NHS health checks available, your rights, legal protections, accessible support, evidence standards, and advice for children, parents, carers and families.
Emergency: If someone has symptoms of a heart attack, stroke, severe breathing difficulties, collapse, or another life-threatening emergency, call 999 immediately. For urgent but non-life-threatening health concerns, contact NHS 111.
What Are NHS Health Checks?
Health checks are designed to:
- Detect health problems early.
- Prevent serious illness.
- Monitor existing conditions.
- Promote healthy lifestyles.
- Identify risk factors.
- Support early treatment.
Health checks may be offered by:
- GP surgeries
- Community health services
- Pharmacies
- Hospitals
- School nursing services
- Occupational health providers (outside the NHS)
NHS Health Check Programme
The NHS Health Check is available to eligible adults aged 40 to 74 in England who do not already have certain diagnosed long-term conditions. It helps identify the risk of:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Dementia (through lifestyle risk discussions)
- High blood pressure
Eligible people are normally invited every 5 years.
The check may include:
- Blood pressure
- Height and weight
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Cholesterol test
- Diabetes risk assessment
- Lifestyle questions
- Smoking and alcohol advice
- Heart health assessment
Official information:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/
Children's Health Checks
Children receive routine health reviews throughout childhood.
These may include:
Newborn Physical Examination
Checks:
- Heart
- Hips
- Eyes
- Testicles (boys)
- General health
Development Reviews
Health visitors monitor:
- Growth
- Feeding
- Sleep
- Speech
- Movement
- Social development
- Emotional wellbeing
School Health Reviews
School nursing teams may support:
- Growth monitoring
- Vision
- Hearing
- Emotional wellbeing
- Healthy lifestyles
- Continence
- Immunisation programmes
Parents should attend appointments and discuss any concerns early.
Health Checks for Older Adults
Older adults may receive checks for:
- Blood pressure
- Falls risk
- Frailty
- Memory concerns
- Nutrition
- Hearing
- Vision
- Medication review
- Mobility
- Continence
- Bone health
Ask your GP if you think additional assessments are needed.
Long-Term Condition Reviews
People with long-term health conditions may receive regular reviews for:
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- COPD
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- High blood pressure
- Epilepsy
- Mental health conditions
- Kidney disease
- Thyroid disorders
Reviews may include:
- Blood tests
- Medication review
- Lifestyle advice
- Blood pressure
- Weight
- Symptom assessment
- Care planning
Blood Pressure Checks
High blood pressure often causes no symptoms.
Blood pressure can be checked at:
- GP surgeries
- Community pharmacies
- NHS Health Checks
- Some workplaces
- Hospital clinics
High blood pressure increases the risk of:
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Kidney disease
- Dementia
Diabetes Checks
Your clinician may recommend testing if you have:
- Family history
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Previous gestational diabetes
- Symptoms such as thirst or frequent urination
Tests may include:
- HbA1c
- Blood glucose
- Cholesterol
- Kidney function
- Foot assessment (for people with diabetes)
Cancer Screening & Preventative Checks
Separate NHS screening programmes are available for eligible groups, including:
- Breast screening
- Cervical screening
- Bowel cancer screening
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screening
These are separate from the NHS Health Check but form an important part of preventative healthcare.
Lifestyle Advice During Health Checks
Healthcare professionals may discuss:
- Healthy eating
- Exercise
- Weight management
- Alcohol use
- Smoking
- Mental wellbeing
- Sleep
- Vaccinations
- Sexual health
You should be offered advice appropriate to your health needs.
Children, Parents & Carers
Parents should:
- Attend routine health reviews.
- Keep the child's Red Book (Personal Child Health Record) up to date.
- Raise concerns early about development, behaviour, growth or learning.
- Keep copies of referrals, assessments and clinic letters.
- Inform schools of significant health conditions.
If a child has additional needs, ask about:
- Health visitor support
- School nurse support
- Community paediatric services
- Therapy referrals
- Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) support where appropriate
Legal Rights
Under the NHS Constitution for England, patients have the right to:
- Access NHS services.
- Receive safe care.
- Be treated with dignity and respect.
- Receive clear information.
- Be involved in decisions.
- Give informed consent.
- Access health records.
- Make complaints.
Official:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england
Equality & Accessibility Rights
Under the Equality Act 2010, disabled people have the right to reasonable adjustments.
You can request:
- Easy Read information
- Large print
- Braille
- Audio information
- British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter
- Spoken language interpreter
- Longer appointments
- Quiet waiting areas
- Wheelchair access
- Home visits where clinically appropriate
- Carer or advocate support
The Accessible Information Standard requires NHS services to identify and meet communication needs.
Official:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/accessible-information-standard/
Evidence Standards
Keep copies of:
- NHS Health Check results
- Blood pressure readings
- Blood test results
- Medication lists
- Appointment letters
- Referral letters
- Care plans
- Vaccination records
- Growth charts
- Children's Red Book records
- Hospital letters
- Complaint correspondence
Ask for:
- Printed results
- Copies of clinic letters
- Follow-up plans
- Referral information
- Lifestyle advice
- Accessible information where required
Accountability
If you believe you have not been offered appropriate health monitoring:
Step 1
Speak with:
- GP
- Practice nurse
- Health visitor
- School nurse
- Community healthcare professional
Step 2
Request a review.
Step 3
Use the NHS complaints procedure if necessary.
Step 4
Escalate unresolved complaints to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman after completing the NHS complaints process.
Practical Questions to Ask
- Am I eligible for an NHS Health Check?
- What do my results mean?
- What lifestyle changes should I make?
- Will I need further tests?
- When should I be reviewed again?
- Can I receive information in an accessible format?
- Should my child be referred for further assessment?
- What support is available if my risk is high?
Official NHS & GOV.UK Resources
NHS Health Check
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/
NHS Screening Programmes
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-screening/
NHS Better Health
https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/
NHS Live Well
NHS Vaccinations
https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/
NHS Constitution
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england
Accessible Information Standard
https://www.england.nhs.uk/accessible-information-standard/
NHS Complaints
https://www.nhs.uk/contact-us/how-to-complain-to-the-nhs/
Quick Checklist
✔ Attend NHS Health Checks when invited.
✔ Keep copies of test results, care plans and clinic letters.
✔ Monitor blood pressure, weight and long-term conditions as advised.
✔ Take children to routine developmental reviews and keep their Red Book up to date.
✔ Ask for reasonable adjustments or accessible information if needed.
✔ Raise concerns early if you think further assessment or monitoring is needed.
✔ Use the NHS complaints process if recommended health checks or follow-up care are delayed or not provided appropriately.