Physical health check (easy read)

What is a physical health check?

A physical health check is for someone with a severe mental illness.

This could be things like schizophrenia, bipolar or psychosis.

A physical health check is usually done by your doctor or a nurse once a year. The check is done to help you stay healthy.

You can get a physical health check if you are aged 18 or over.

Why is it good to have a physical health check?

You can talk to a health professional about anything you might be worried about.

If there is anything wrong then the doctor or nurse can sort it out before it gets worse.

What happens at a physical health check?

The doctor or nurse may do these things:

• measure your blood pressure
• measure your weight and height
• ask questions about your lifestyle, like whether you smoke or drink alcohol and how much
• do a blood glucose test
• do a blood lipid test, which includes your cholesterol
• ask you about any medicines you are taking
• speak to you about ideas for staying healthy

What happens after a physical health check?

You will talk about the results and agree next steps. These might be:

• talk about personal physical health goals
• get help and support to be more healthy
• make an appointment for another check in 12 months time

Top tips for your physical health check

• Ask the doctor or nurse to explain anything you do not understand.
• Agree with the doctor or nurse what the next steps are.
• Think of a physical health check as an MOT and expect to have one each year.

See downloadable copy of the physical health check (opens in new window).

Page last reviewed: April 30, 2024
Next review due: April 30, 2025