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Health

over 75 health check

(41 Posts)
anneey Tue 08-Jul-14 16:37:05

I had my first over 75 health check today. (very thorough)
I even had a memory test...very humiliating. Surprisingly I achieved 100%. Does anyone know if the test will change for next year. If it doesn't I feel as though I will be cheating.

Greenfinch Tue 08-Jul-14 17:28:12

I have never heard of this test and DH is over 75. How do you go about getting it ?

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 08-Jul-14 17:29:25

I've got another two and a bit years. Don't want more health checks. #leavemealone

anneey Tue 08-Jul-14 17:54:54

I hadn't heard of it Greenfinch. I received a text message out of the Blue, asking me to make an appointment. The nurse told me that they are NOW doing it every year. So it probably is NEW.
They ask allsorts of personal questions. Medical and practical. Such as do you have a cleaner or gardener? Do you drink Alcohol or smoke. How is your bladder and bowels performing. etc.etc.

TriciaF Tue 08-Jul-14 19:01:58

I wonder if this is an EU thing, or just the UK?

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 08-Jul-14 19:03:30

I don't think we can blame everything on the EU. grin

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 08-Jul-14 19:06:09

When I get my kind invitation to this "health check", I will explain to them that I will contact them when I feel poorly, and until then they can bugger off.

Purpledaffodil Tue 08-Jul-14 19:18:47

Coincidentally, we went to an NHS patient voice conference today (we know how to have a good time) and they talked about new checks for the over 75s. Apparently when you reach that esteemed age you also get a GP who is dedicated to you. I also found out about another NHS initiative which gives you a general BP and cholesterol type MOT, apparently that can be done by GP or local pharmacist,depending on local arrangements. I think that is for the over 60s, but was overcome with the excitement of the conference and didn't get the details. wink

Aka Tue 08-Jul-14 19:27:34

There you are jingl your own dedicated GP. Don't you fancy that?

Purpledaffodil Tue 08-Jul-14 19:38:51

For some reason I imagined a dedicated GP as Dr Finlay with or without Casebookgrin

durhamjen Tue 08-Jul-14 19:48:49

The general health check/MOT is for anyone over forty, Purple.

Purpledaffodil Wed 09-Jul-14 07:02:52

Thanks Durhamjen. I should have stayed more alert and made some notesgrin I think it is being done by pharmacists in our area which is interesting. Our local pharmacist certainly has more of a handle on OH's drugs than anyone else seems to and has made useful suggestions in the past.

FlicketyB Wed 09-Jul-14 16:39:55

DDiL's mother is over 75. She has just had a letter from her surgery telling her who her nominated GP is. Is it the doctor she always sees and who knows her and her medical problems well? No, of course it isn't. It is a GP whose name she did not even recognise and has never seen, which means he does not know anything about her or her problems.

Last year I got my invitation for my over 40 check up (at 70). It arrived two weeks after an annual check I get because it was discovered a few years ago that my kidney function is lower than is considered ideal. As far as I could see the only difference between the two examinations was 'lifestyle advice'. I wrote to my GP and pointed out that it was a waste of their time and resources and mine to have two identical checks within weeks of each other and suggested that they do the lifestyle check when I came in for my annual kidney MOT this year.

To my amazement when my reminder for this year's check up arrived it included a life style questionnaire - did I smoke, how much did I drink and how much exercise did I take. I filled it in sent it back, had the check and it was never mentioned, presumably I passed the lifestyle check and needed no advice.

janerowena Wed 09-Jul-14 18:13:07

We've been getting the lifestyle check offers ever since we moved here 7 years ago.

I think the over 75 health check is a really good idea. If not for my peace of mind, then for my family's. I know several people at the moment who are going through hell because of fibbing older relatives, telling their doctors that they are fine when they are not, and so not getting help when they need it. My cousin's father has just been refused an evening carer because he said he was making a sandwich before she got there, so didn't need her. He wasn't, and now he has no-one to check on him in the evenings and no help unless his children take it in turns to drive an hour away. I think a doctor would be able to tell if he was malnourished, at the very least.

durhamjen Thu 10-Jul-14 19:57:20

pulsetoday.msgfocus.com/c/13Ht1gR54D1N5ipwgg4vujD

If you feel like you need one, go now and ask for it. I have a feeling the powers that be will soon put a stop to them.

Ana Thu 10-Jul-14 20:00:33

Oh, do give it a rest, durhamjen...hmm

Aka Thu 10-Jul-14 20:14:48

Seconded hmm

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 10-Jul-14 20:24:45

Interesting article jendurham.

I think every practice should buy up a job lot of Lloyds Pharmacy home blood pressure monitors and isue one to every pensioner. That way we can keep an eye on our own blood pressure and not bother the doctor at all.

It's what I do.

durhamjen Thu 10-Jul-14 20:25:01

STOP following me around if you do not want to read what I say. It's your choice. I think I am allowed to say what I want on here. You must know by now that I am interested in politics.

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 10-Jul-14 20:25:10

the missing s

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 10-Jul-14 20:26:15

Umm... That wasn't to me was it?

I agree with you. Mean remark Ana. And Aka. shock

durhamjen Thu 10-Jul-14 20:32:36

I've got one, jingle, but I have to have blood pressure checks because I had a problem with my aorta.
Tomorrow I have to have a 24 hour meter to use, so as I was going to the doctors, I thought I'd book my car in for its MOT, go to the garage first, then the GPs.
Yesterday, I twisted my ankle and am having difficulty walking. So I phoned the garage, and they said no problem, they'll pick up my car.
Someone else has said they'll give me a lift to the surgery, so all sorted. The advantages of living in a village.
By the way, although the GP said a 24 hour blood pressure check, the nurse said we only do it for 12 hours. A practical example of NHS cuts?

Sorry, jingle, that STOP etc. was not to you.

Ana Thu 10-Jul-14 20:32:59

Oh, that's rich, coming from you jingl!

I'm not following anyone around durhamhen, just reading the latest comments on the threads. I'm just fed up with your doom and gloom prophecies and government-criticising, and I'm allowed to say that, too.

FlicketyB Thu 10-Jul-14 20:43:39

Testing blood pressure is only one of the tests they do. There are cholesterol measurements and a urine sample is taken . MY DF, then in his late 80s had early bladder cancer picked up because he visited the Well Man clinic his surgery ran every year for an MOT. As a result it was found while it could be dealt with quite easily and he lived a normal healthy life. He lived to be 92 fit in mind and body, which is no mean feat.

Aka Thu 10-Jul-14 20:54:35

Sigh