A Health Check is a face-to-face assessment with a healthcare professional. It provides confidential clinical health, fitness assessment and advice. The aim of a health check is to find out the risk of you developing conditions like diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular diseases. These assessments are intended as preventive and early detection measures only. They will be impartial and objective. They do not seek to diagnose or treat a person’s medical condition but to advise clients depending on their medical assessment results to seek further medical help from their Doctors and other multidisciplinary team.
What happens at a Health Check?
A Health Check takes around 30 minutes. The screening process includes the following:
- Health and lifestyle questions
- blood pressure
- blood sugar level
- cholesterol
- stress levels
- tobacco use
- alcohol use
- weight and height
- waist circumference
- metabolic age
- body mass index (BMI)
- fitness
All results will be interpreted immediately.
- Clients will be given tailored lifestyle advice and support to manage or reduce their risk of developing serious health conditions and signposted to other agencies e.g. gym and General Practitioners. It will be up to the client to follow up the Nurse’s advice on further tests, screenings, and lifestyle changes.
- The provision of a personalised, risk rated health assessment report/results which will be interpreted to the client.
- The provision of health booklets, covering key health issues and a personal self-health management plan.
- All employees will be offered a follow up health check after 6 months to encourage ownership and progress with health issues.
Who will do the health check?
A Health Advisor/Registered General Nurse carries out the health check, but at times it may be a different healthcare practitioner. Either way, there will be the same checks, and the same type of questions.
Can I ask for a male or female Health Advisor to carry out the health check?
Yes you can, but please remember that some practices only have a small number of staff, so this may not always be possible.
How a Health Check will help
Once a Health Check has shown you your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes or kidney disease, you’ll find out what you can do to reduce your risk. That may mean lifestyle changes such as eating a healthier diet, cutting down on alcohol, or increasing the amount of physical activity that you do.There are some risk factors for these four diseases that can’t be changed. For example, your risk increases with age. But there’s a lot you can do to reduce your risk. You can:
- maintain a healthy weight
- be physically active
- eat a healthy and balanced diet
- don’t smoke
If you’re at higher risk, those changes may be combined with medical treatments, such as medicines to lower raised blood pressure or cholesterol.
The next steps will depend on the results of your health check. If the Health Advisor or Practitioner finds your potential risk of conditions like heart disease is low, you may not need any follow-up advice or action, but support will be available if you want it. If your risk is high, you will receive advice and support to make changes to your lifestyle, and a follow up after 6 months.
Is a health check free?
Yes. All you need to give is your time.
Where can I get a Health Check?
You can get a Health Check at any nearest Phil Stenzel Health Foundation Practice but normally our Health Advisor will come to your workplace to do health checks.
What happens if I cannot attend or if I miss my appointment?
This is not a problem. Just call our office and speak to one of the staff there. They will be able to make a new appointment for you.