Have you ever considered a private health check or assessment? It’s a good idea—especially once you’re over 30. As we get older, the chance of developing health problems rises. Some conditions don’t cause symptoms, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. That’s why preventive screening matters.
What is a health screening or assessment?
A health screening is a set of tests and checks that show your current health status. The results highlight any concerns and give you professional advice on how to improve or manage your health. Screenings can be very thorough—testing for heart disease, cancer, kidney problems, and lung health—but you might only need a basic check depending on your lifestyle and family history.
Key checks to start with
The most important tests to have first are:
– blood pressure
– cholesterol
– blood glucose
These basic tests are vital. High blood pressure often has no symptoms, but it raises your risk of stroke or heart attack. Over one in four adults in the UK have high blood pressure—could you be one of them? High cholesterol also increases the risk of serious illness, so it’s important to know your levels. Raised blood glucose can signal diabetes or prediabetes. Diabetes can cause serious long-term problems; it’s a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in working-age people, so early diagnosis and treatment matter.
If you think you’re too young for these issues, think again. High blood pressure affects one in ten women in their 20s and a little over one in ten men aged 25–34. High cholesterol can affect any age—even children—so it’s worth knowing your numbers.
Where to get tested
For basic checks, contact your GP to find out what free tests are available through the NHS (in the UK). If you’re aged 40–74 and don’t have a pre-existing condition, you’re entitled to a free NHS Health Check every five years. If you’re registered with a GP, you should be invited automatically.
The NHS Health Check takes about 20–30 minutes and includes:
– body mass index (BMI)
– blood pressure
– cholesterol level
– alcohol use screening
– physical activity check
– diabetes risk assessment
If you’re over 40 and haven’t had this free check, contact your GP—you’ve got nothing to lose.
Limitations of the free NHS Health Check
– It’s not offered to people aged 20–40, who can still have health issues.
– You can only have it once every five years.
– There’s no cancer risk assessment or cancer screening included.
– It’s a basic check—limited in scope.
This is where private health checks can help.
Private health checks
Compared to the NHS, private providers offer a range of packages tailored to your situation. If you’re worried about cancer because of family history, you can choose a screening focused on that. If heart disease runs in your family, there are packages that focus on cardiovascular health. Options vary by budget and health concerns, so pick what fits you best.
Common private providers
Bupa
Bluecrest
Nuffield Health
BMI Healthcare
Medichecks
Have you ever had a private health check, or would you consider one?