Free Annual Physical Health Checks
Sussex Health and Care are launching a further campaign to encourage people with severe mental illness to have physical health checks.
If you have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and/or experience of psychosis, and you are aged 18 or over, you can benefit from a free annual health check at your GP practice once a year. An annual physical health check can help to identify any potential issues or conditions that might require further investigation or treatment, such as heart disease, breathing conditions and some cancers.
Talking to a doctor, nurse, or Access Facilitator, and having a few simple tests, can help with finding any health problems early. This means they can offer you the treatment or support you may need to stay well. Some people may need a little extra help to attend their physical health check. You can ask if your practice can provide:
a longer appointment,
having a carer, friend, or peer support worker with you,
an appointment at the beginning or end of the day,
a quiet place to wait if you find it hard to be in a busy waiting room,
something else you need.
What happens at an annual health check?
There will normally be two appointments lasting about 25 minutes each. Before they have the health check and any tests, the doctor or nurse will check if they are happy to go ahead.
At the first appointment, the nurse or health care assistant will:
Check heart rate, blood pressure and weight.
Take a blood test.
Talk about how to keep well and ask if they need any help with this.
Check if vaccinations and screening tests are up to date.
At the second appointment, normally a week or so later, the GP or senior nurse will
Have the results of the blood tests as well as the other findings from the first part of the check and will talk to the patient about their health and the measures that can be taken to improve this going forwards.
Talk to them about their medicines and ask if they have any side effects.
Check how they are coping with any long term conditions such as asthma or diabetes.
I’m ready to take the first step. How can I request my check?
To get your check you can contact your GP surgery and say:
you live with a severe mental illness diagnosis, and
you would like to book your annual physical health check.
You can ask;where you’ll need to go for your physical health check appointment,
how long you’ll have to wait for the appointment to come through,
how long the physical health check will take, and
about any additional support you may need to attend.
If you worried about what the checks may involve you can watch a video here https://youtu.be/0Edlx4jdsAM
What if you find it difficult to travel to an appointment?
If someone needs help with travel, they can contact their local community transport service:
· See if they qualify for the NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) for people who have a low income or claim certain benefits.
For more information please go to Sussex campaign to encourage people with severe mental illness to have physical health checks - Sussex Health & Care
