Free NHS health checks for people aged 40-74
May 6, 2021
Are you aged 40-74?
Have you had a free NHS health check every 5 years at your GP practice?
In Kirklees, NHS health checks will soon be offered by Kirklees Wellness Service, in community-based venues, by trained staff.
What do you think about NHS health checks? Do you want to hear more about the proposed new way of delivering these checks in your local area?
Join us on Zoom to hear more and have your say:
Friday 11 June, 10.30 – 12.00 noon – please click here
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-nhs-health-checks-for-people-aged-45-74-tickets-153774273993
For more information call 01924 450379 or email info@healthwatchkirklees.co.uk
If you can’t attend either session but still want to know more and share your thoughts, please get in touch.
Why only up to 74? Aren’t we, who are older, any use to the Community any more? I still pay taxes and Council Tax but I am in my eightieth year! Do I not warrant a Health Check? This is something I have never been told about !!
Hi David, thank you very much for your comment. I think your views and concerns around the maximum age for a health check would be perfect for this event. We want to find out how people in Kirklees feel about health checks so that we can feed this back to commissioners of services. If you would like to attend the event please use the link above to register or call 01924 450379 and speak to Clare who can give you some more information. Many thanks Stacey @ Healthwatch Kirklees
I am with David Gill, don’t we warrant a health check because we are over 74.
What is the reasoning behind this I would like to know.
Hello Bernice and David – it’s a good question! I’ve asked Kirklees Wellness Service if they have any information about the age range for the health checks. I will get back to you once I know more. Thank you
Hi, I’ve had some clarification on why they free NHS health checks are offered to those aged 40-74:
“The NHS Health Check is available to individuals between 40 and 74 years of age without existing cardiovascular disease. Individuals over the age of 75 have a named accountable GP. One of the responsibilities of the accountable GP is to provide a health check on request where an examination hasn’t been performed in the preceding 12 months”
Hope this answers your question but if you want to know more, please get in touch.
I don’t comment as I don’t want my detail recorded – but …..WHAT HEALTH CHECKS ARE WE REFERRING TO???????
Hi – thanks for getting in touch. It’s the NHS health check which is routinely offered to people aged 40-74, every 5 years. The check includes a blood test, height and weight check, blood pressure check and discussion about smoking, alcohol intake etc. The Wellness Service in Kirklees is due to start a pilot project in September 2021 to test out some new ideas for delivering health checks to look at whether a change would be a good thing in future. If you’d like to know more please get in touch on 01924 450379 or email info@healthwatchkirklees.co.uk, or register for the online focus group we are running on Friday 11 June. Thank you.
What qualifications and experience will the “trained staff” have? It seems strange that this service will no longer be provided by experienced health care staff in GP surgeries where qualified professionals are on hand to advise.
Hi Victoria, thanks for your question regarding the proposed new way of delivering health checks in Kirklees. The Wellness Coaches who work for the Wellness Service are already experienced in supporting people with their long term health improvement but will have additional training and support to deliver health checks. The training for and the delivery of health checks by non-clinical staff will be overseen and signed off by the clinical lead person working for the pilot project. Locala and The University of Huddersfield will also provide additional training to ensure that the pilot health check experience is a safe and confidential one that enables individuals to feel in control of their health and wellbeing.
All current GP health checks will be unaffected during the pilot. Everyone who previously was offered a health check via their GP will still get that offer. The pilot work is in addition to the GP offer, in order to test out different ways of doing things, but none of the current practice will change – it will just operate alongside I hope this provides a bit of reassurance about how the pilot project might work but please do get back in touch if you have any more concerns or questions. Clare (Senior Engagement & Information Officer at Healthwatch Kirklees) 01924 450379 clare.costello@healthwatchkirklees.co.uk
Hi.
I don’t recall my hp surgery doing a health check at all