What is an Enhanced Health Check?
An Enhanced Health Check (EHC) is very similar to a standard NHS Health Check in that it aims to help improve an individual’s health and wellbeing.
Everyone is at risk of developing some conditions and finding out about things that could be impacting on your health or health conditions that you did not know you had can be scary. However, the good news is these things can often be changed or prevented if they are found early enough. The purpose of the NHS Enhanced Health Check is to find things early so that we can make the right offer of support to you to help prevent things developing further.
The standard NHS Health Check can help you prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, and other conditions that we become more at risk of developing with age.
Across Lancashire and South Cumbria though there are some residents who qualify for a NHS Health Check (those aged 40-74 with no known conditions), and who we believe would benefit from further screening and support, which is why they are being offered an EHC. This looks at all of the above as well as further screening, vaccinations, and your mental and physical wellbeing.
What does having an Enhanced Health Check involve?
The EHC will consist of some questions about your mental and physical wellbeing, your lifestyle and other key factors that can affect your health such as food availability and your current housing security. It will also take some screening measurements such as your height and weight, as well as further tests such as blood pressure and a blood test. You may also be offered vaccinations where needed. Much like the standard NHS Health Check, you will then receive personalised advice and signposting or referral into appropriate services.