# Free NHS Health Check: eligibility and how to book https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/free-nhs-health-check/ Publisher: Med Easy Source material checked: 2026-10-20 Editorial information; no registered-clinician review is claimed. General UK healthcare information. Country-specific rules and provider examples retain the limits stated in the text. Fees are dated examples, not live quotes. ## Short answer The NHS Health Check is a free cardiovascular risk check for eligible people aged 40–74 in England. Existing conditions or monitoring can affect eligibility. Ask your GP practice whether a check is due and where it is provided locally. It is preventive care with a defined purpose, rather than a test for every possible illness. The NHS Health Check is a free cardiovascular risk check for eligible people aged 40–74 in England. It is a chance to discuss future health risks and next steps, rather than a general test for every possible illness. ## Key points - Check eligibility and the timing of your last NHS Health Check before buying a private screening package. If the practice does not provide it, ask about the local booking route. - Bring the question you want the check to answer, and tell the practice if it concerns a new symptom. A preventive programme and investigation of a symptom have different purposes. - Leave with an understandable next-step plan rather than only a score. Ask who arranges suggested reviews, how results are shared and which local support has been discussed. ## Check eligibility before looking for a private package The programme is for people aged 40–74 who are not already in certain monitoring groups. Exclusions include heart disease, stroke, transient ischaemic attack, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease and familial hypercholesterolaemia. Cholesterol-lowering medicine such as a statin, or a previous cardiovascular risk estimate of 20% or more over ten years, can also exclude you. Check the complete NHS eligibility list . Being outside this programme does not mean there is no NHS route to discuss your health. Ask your usual care team which review is appropriate. If you already have a condition being monitored, take that question to the team responsible for it instead of trying to book a duplicate check under a different name. Section link: https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/free-nhs-health-check/#check-eligibility-before-looking-for-a-private-package - [Check the complete NHS eligibility list](https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/nhs-health-check/) ## No invitation? Ask the practice or council Eligible people should be invited every five years. If you have not heard, contact your GP practice; if it does not provide checks, your council can explain where to book. The service is commissioned locally in England. Read the NHS booking guidance and NHS England’s explanation of local provision . For example, after moving house you might be unsure whether a previous check is recorded at your new practice. Give the approximate date and location if you know them, then ask whether another check is due. There is no need to begin with a paid appointment simply because you cannot find an invitation letter. Section link: https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/free-nhs-health-check/#no-invitation-ask-the-practice-or-council - [Read the NHS booking guidance](https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/nhs-health-check/) - [NHS England’s explanation of local provision](https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/prevention/secondary-prevention/cardiovascular-disease-high-impact-interventions/) ## Know what the appointment is intended to do The NHS describes a check lasting about 20–30 minutes, usually including body measurements, blood pressure and cholesterol, with a blood sugar test where relevant. The discussion focuses on cardiovascular risk. See what normally happens at the appointment . When you book, ask what preparation the provider requires and whether any part of the appointment happens separately. Do not infer fasting instructions from another person’s check or from a private testing package. Follow the instructions for your own appointment and ask if they are unclear. A useful way to prepare is to write down the health question you hope to discuss. If that question concerns a new symptom, tell the practice rather than relying on a preventive check to answer it. This appointment has a defined purpose and cannot stand in for every type of clinical assessment. Section link: https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/free-nhs-health-check/#know-what-the-appointment-is-intended-to-do - [See what normally happens at the appointment](https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/nhs-health-check/) ## Turn the result into a clear plan The numbers are useful when you understand what they mean for you. Ask the professional to explain the result in ordinary language and distinguish something to act on now from something to review later. What does this result tell me, and what does it not tell me? Is another appointment or test being suggested? Who will arrange it, and how will I hear about it? Which local support services could I discuss? Can I have a copy of the results and agreed next steps? Keep the plan somewhere you can find it. If you use more than one healthcare provider, ask how the result will reach your usual practice. A memorable score is less useful than knowing who is responsible for the follow-up. Section link: https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/free-nhs-health-check/#turn-the-result-into-a-clear-plan ## Compare the purpose before comparing prices Before paying for a private “health MOT”, ask the provider to state the question its package is designed to answer and how results will be interpreted. An extra test count does not tell you whether the service matches your concern. Compare the assessment, explanation and follow-up, not a list length. Browse healthcare information for other NHS starting points, or use Find care . If you need a local GP, see registration in England . People living elsewhere in the UK should begin with our national healthcare guide because this programme is specific to England. Section link: https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/free-nhs-health-check/#compare-the-purpose-before-comparing-prices - [healthcare information](https://www.med-easy.co.uk/healthcare-information/) - [Find care](https://www.med-easy.co.uk/find-care/) - [registration in England](https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/register-with-a-gp/) - [national healthcare guide](https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/uk-healthcare-four-nations/) ## Questions to ask - Am I within the programme’s age and clinical eligibility rules, or is another review more appropriate for me? - When was my last NHS Health Check, and does the practice have the date recorded after any move? - Where can I book locally if my GP practice does not provide the check itself? - What preparation does this appointment require, and will any measurements or tests happen on a separate occasion? - After the check, who will explain results, arrange follow-up and provide a copy of the agreed next steps? ## Frequently asked questions ### What if I have not received an invitation? Ask your GP practice whether you are eligible and due for a check. If it does not offer the service, your council can explain local provision. Mention any previous check and approximate date, particularly after moving. A missing invitation is a reason to enquire, not proof that you must pay privately. https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/free-nhs-health-check/#faq-1 ### Does being ineligible mean I cannot discuss cardiovascular health on the NHS? No. Some people are outside this programme because they already have conditions or monitoring that need another type of review. Ask your usual care team which appointment is appropriate. The programme’s eligibility boundary describes this preventive service; it is not a judgement that your health questions do not matter. https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/free-nhs-health-check/#faq-2 ### Is a private health MOT the same as an NHS Health Check? Compare the purpose and follow-up before comparing the number of tests. A private package may cover different questions and charge separately for interpretation or further appointments. Ask what each service is intended to establish and who acts on the findings. More measurements alone do not explain whether the package fits your concern. https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/free-nhs-health-check/#faq-3 ## Sources - [NHS: NHS Health Check eligibility and appointments](https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/nhs-health-check/) — NHS or public authority - [NHS England: cardiovascular prevention and NHS Health Checks](https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/prevention/secondary-prevention/cardiovascular-disease-high-impact-interventions/) — NHS or public authority ## Related guides - https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/private-health-screening/ - https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/prepare-for-healthcare-appointment/ - https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/register-with-a-gp/