Health checks and screening
Health checks and screening can find problems early, before you have any symptoms, when they are easier to treat. They are free. You will be invited by letter, text or the NHS App, so please make sure we have your current contact details.
NHS Health Check
A free check-up for adults aged 40 to 74, every 5 years. It looks at your risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and dementia, and takes about 20 to 30 minutes. We check your height, weight, blood pressure and cholesterol, and talk about how to lower your risk.
You will not be invited if you already have heart or kidney disease, diabetes, high cholesterol or take statins, because we check these regularly anyway.
If you are 40 to 74 and have not had a check in the last 5 years, you can ask us for one.
NHS screening
You are invited automatically when you are due. Make sure you are registered with us, and tell us if you change your name or address.
| Screening | Who is invited | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer | Everyone aged 50 to 74. A home test kit is posted to you. If you are 75 or over, you can ask for a kit. | Every 2 years |
| Breast cancer | Women aged 50 up to their 71st birthday. If you are over 71, you can ask for an appointment. | Every 3 years |
| Cervical screening (smear test) | Women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64. Done by our nurses. | Every 5 years if no HPV is found (every 3 years for some people aged 25 to 49 screened before July 2025) |
| Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) | Men in the year they turn 65. If you are over 65 and have not been screened, you can ask. | Once |
| Diabetic eye screening | Everyone with diabetes aged 12 or over | Every 1 or 2 years |
Find out more about NHS screening on the NHS website, including how to ask for screening if you have been missed.
Non-urgent advice: Do not wait for screening if you have symptoms
Screening is for people without symptoms. If you notice something unusual, such as blood in your poo, a lump or bleeding between periods, contact us straight away.
Page last reviewed: 22 October 2026