Recommended annual health screenings

A health review may include blood pressure, weight, lifestyle questions and a discussion of symptoms. Your clinician may also consider blood tests for conditions such as diabetes or cholesterol problems, while other checks are scheduled at wider intervals. Screening is for people who may feel well; it is different from investigating a new symptom.

The right schedule changes after pregnancy, a new diagnosis, a medicine change or a family-history update. Bring previous results and a current medicine list so your clinician can avoid unnecessary duplication and identify trends.

Book a routine review if you have not had one recently. Before the appointment, note changes in weight, exercise, sleep, mood, alcohol or tobacco use, and write down any symptoms you have noticed. Ask whether you need preparation for a blood test, such as fasting, and whether home blood-pressure readings would help.

A validated home monitor can support an accurate blood-pressure record when used with the correct cuff size and a settled posture. Keep a short dated log rather than relying on a single reading. An [Annual Health Check](/treatments/diagnostics-and-screening/annual-health-check/) can provide a structured starting point, while a [Chronic Disease Review](/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/chronic-disease-review/) may suit an established condition.

Do not wait for an annual appointment if you develop chest pressure, severe breathlessness, sudden weakness, fainting, new confusion, heavy bleeding or rapidly worsening pain. Seek urgent medical help for these symptoms. Arrange a sooner clinical review for persistent thirst, unexplained weight change, repeated headaches, ongoing fatigue or a sustained change in bowel habits.

Ask which checks are relevant to your personal risks, when each test should be repeated, what preparation is needed, and how you will receive the results. Clarify which symptoms should prompt an earlier review and whether your medicines or family history alter the plan.