Residents encouraged to book their free NHS Health Check

Medway Council is encouraging residents aged 40 to 74 to book their free NHS Health Check.

Residents can now book a health check at a number of GP surgeries across Medway and at the Smokefree Advice Centre in Chatham.

As people get older they have a higher risk of developing conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease or type 2 diabetes. A free NHS Health Check can spot the early signs of these conditions and trained staff can offer tailored advice and ongoing support to help residents make small changes to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Residents aged between 40 and 74, who do not have a pre-existing condition will be invited for a health check every 5 years, either at their GP surgery or the Smokefree Advice Centre. Those who receive their invitation should book their appointment as soon as possible to avoid delay. Queries about eligibility can be made with Medway Council’s Public Health team by phoning 01634 335830, emailing [email protected] or texting the word ‘CHECK’ to 81066.

A number of new social distancing measures have been put in place at the Smokefree Advice Centre in Chatham to keep both visitors and staff safe. This includes Health Checks being by appointment only, a limited number of people being allowed in the centre at any one-time, staggered arrival times and enhanced cleaning. Patients will also be asked to wear a face covering whilst inside the centre.

Cllr David Brake, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder covering Public Health, said: “I am pleased that eligible residents aged 40 to 74 can now book a free NHS Health Check at our Smokefree Advice Centre in Chatham once again. It is incredibly important that residents continue to look after their health and our specialist staff have been trained to identify early indications of conditions, like high blood pressure, which often have no symptoms. They will also provide tailored advice to help our residents live healthier lives. If you book a health check and can no longer attend the appointment, please let our staff know.”

For more information about NHS Health Checks visit medway.gov.uk/healthchecks

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