The NHS Health Check is offered to eligible adults in Portsmouth every five years between 40 and 74 years old.
We are all at risk of getting ill and developing diseases. For people over 40 heart disease, stroke, diabetes (type 2) and kidney disease are the biggest causes of ill health.
The good news is that the risk of developing these diseases can be reduced and they can often be prevented. The NHS Health Check can help you do this by assessing your specific risk and helping you understand it and how to change it, with the support of local services in Portsmouth.
The free NHS Health Check takes about 30 minutes. You will be invited to book a convenient appointment with one of the pharmacies in Portsmouth offering the service. It will take place with a trained member of staff in the private consultation room.
You will be asked some questions about you, your family’s health and any medication you take. You will take some simple tests including height and weight, a blood pressure test and a finger prick test for glucose and cholesterol.Your results will be shared with you straight away and, with your permission, sent to your GP.
You will be able to talk to the pharmacy staff about what you can do to reduce your risk and what service are available to support you. Most of these will be in the local community and you will be able to contact them directly. You may find helpful services throughout this website.
Sometimes a Health Check result can require a follow up appointment with your GP. The pharmacy team can advise you if this is necessary.
Some GPs also offer the NHS Health Check appointment at the practice. If you choose to have your Health Check at your GP practice you may need to get your blood test before your Health Check appointment. You will be advised how to do this.
The NHS Health Check is for everyone between 40 and 74 who is not already being looked after by their doctor for heart disease, stroke, diabetes type 2 or kidney disease.
You will usually be invited for your first NHS Health Check by letter at around the time of your 40th birthday. You will receive your next invite five years later around the time of your 45th birthday, and so on.
This is a new scheme (introduced in September 2011) so you may not receive your first invitation for sometime.
You can find out more about the NHS Health Check at
or by calling the NHS Health Check Helpline
0845 850 9850 (5p per minute on a BT land line, other costs may vary).
