Private health checks

I order myself tests from time to time, unless I want to talk to the doctor myself. I don't think it's generally ideal and if you know you have high blood pressure it should be monitored by your doctor. I just do it knowing I would talk to my doctor if anything came out of it that was at all concerning.

I know we SHOULD be monitored! But the bottom line is we aren’t! I wrote a letter asking for blood tests at the start of 2020( and got them) but a second letter I sent two months ago has been ignored. The practice was never brilliant but is awful now- most of the village is trying to leave but all local practices are full or we are out of their catchment area. Where do you order tests from?

I have pre-existing conditions and just received a text from my GP asking me to book in for my annual health check.

You could monitor your blood pressure yourself. Lloyds Pharmacy has one on offer at £16.49 at present

I monitor my own blood pressure at home. I don't think we're in the same country so where I get my tests from won't help you. What I do like about it is that I get the results within about 24 hours, straight to my inbox. I don't have to wait a week and then go to an appointment to hear the results.

I’m checking my blood pressure at home for 7 days, there is a printed form that I downloaded from my Surgery, after a week I will scan it in and send it to them, I should have done it last year but for some reason forgot.
Buy yourself a Certified Blood Pressure Monitor and do it yourself, send it in and they should see you if necessary.
I also have the NHS app and can see when I called the Doctor and what advice I was given (my records go back 30 yrs or so) and a monitoring was called for ref my Hypertension, as they are so busy with Covid Jabs, as mine are, it might be time to take it into your own hands as I am doing at the moment.
DH is over 70 and gets a Health Check once a year.

It’s not blood pressure I’m worried about- we do check our own. But the fact that we have high blood pressure means we can’t get an NHS general health check but lots of private ones on offer so I was just wondering if anyone had any experience to share.

I have been taking my own blood pressure at home every morning for the last 4 years due to heart condition. So when I need to speak to my GP or have hospital appointment I have all my readings. Also I know what BP is normal for me if it is raised for 3 days I get in touch with my GP because I know something is wrong.

Health care does change from area to area. I moved 100+ miles from where I used to live nearly 2 years ago. I can not believe how much better the health care is here.

I have always believed we have to take some reasonability for our own health. That's why when I was told I needed to have my BP monitored weekly I brought a machine and do it daily at home. The surgery had enough to do .

We know our bodies. I have been ill for 33 years. I know when something is wrong. And when to get help.

The surgery I am with is very good and only the other day phoned for some advice which was freely given. I didn't know what the procedure is nowadays if you get ill away from home. Going to stay with relatives in a couple of weeks where I used to live.

Health care is like most things in life depends where you live.

If you can afford a private MOT there are companies like BUPA and Nuffield health who do them . If you look on their websites there will be information on services they offer and probably costs.

But things like mammograms are every 3 years from age 50, bowel tests every 2 years from age 60 which are free with NHS. Smears not sure how often they are now as not needed one since I was 38 due to complete hysterectomy. Full blood tests are usually done once a year via GP .

Have you got the NHS app on your phone it's different to track and trace.

You can access your GP via online consultation. Also order prescriptions and it shows when you had your Covid jabs.etc.

I’ve not actually done this but can you get a private GP’s appointment? Then you will know what sort of regular checks you will need. I think BUPA do them if you check online.

It is not just your high blood pressure that needs monitoring, there is also the effect that pressure has on your kidneys, which should be measured at least once a year via urine and blood samples.

I had my annual check in either March or April this year, delayed from November.

Just be warned - a private health MOT is more likely than a health service one to identify marginal conditions which ‘need further investigation’ and add considerable extra cost, of course.

Our surgery did an annual check at 60 but for some years have stopped doing any annual checks at all even after 65. This means that many symptoms which could be ‘picked up’ at an early stage are not. Also I don’t understand why the GP will only discuss one condition as different conditions could be linked and affect the diagnosis.

Friends of mine went to the reasonably local BUPA hospital to have the type of check that you are describing. Maybe you could do a bit of Googling and find out somewhere convenient to you and give them a ring. I have found our local one very helpful when we have wanted some information.

The reason you're not eligible for a general NHS health check is because you should be having health checks anyway if you have high blood pressure.

Obviously, things have been affected by Covid, but ideally you should be able to contact your GP and ask for a high blood pressure health check. Unfortunately, some surgeries are better than others.

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