Your Premier Health Assessment checklist

How to get the most out of your health assessment
What you do - before your appointment
What you do - on the day
When you arrive
Your health assessment

How to get the most out of your health assessment

In choosing a BUPA health assessment you are taking an important step towards safeguarding your future health and wellbeing.

This checklist will ensure that you are fully prepared for your Premier Health Assessment - please take a few moments to read it through and don't hesitate to contact us if you have any queries.

We look forward to welcoming you to the centre and will do everything we can to ensure that you are able to relax and enjoy the time that you are devoting specifically for your health.

What you do - before your appointment

Your health assessment questionnaire
You will need to bring a completed health assessment questionnaire with you to your assessment. Please complete this as fully as possible. This forms the basis for your discussion with the BUPA doctor, and the information you provide will help us to understand and address your individual needs.

Premier Health Assessment questionnaire
If you have any problems downloading the questionnaire, please arrive at the centre at least 15 minutes before your appointment to allow time to complete a health assessment questionnaire.

Bowel cancer test
If you are aged 45 or over, you will be given a bowel cancer test kit at your health assessment. You will need to collect a small sample from each of three bowel movements and return it to the centre as soon as possible. Please read through the factsheet for instructions about how to use this kit.
Bowel cancer test factsheet

Prostate cancer test (for men aged 50 or over)
We will be testing your blood for signs of prostate cancer. There is no preparation necessary for this test but please read the factsheet for more information about it.
Prostate cancer blood test factsheet

Cervical smear test (for women)
This is best carried out in the middle of your cycle. If you are likely to be having your period at the time of your assessment, we will not be able to take a cervical smear and will arrange for this to be carried out on a separate occasion. The factsheet on cervical screening will tell you more about having a smear taken.
Cervical smear test factsheet

Rescheduling or cancelling your appointment
If you should need to change or cancel your appointment, we can do this for a fee of £15, providing you call us at least three clear weekdays before your appointment. A £75 fee will be charged if you give us less notice than three clear weekdays. If you fail to attend on the day, without calling us in advance, you will be charged the full price of your health assessment. If your assessment is being paid for by your employer or has been pre-paid, different terms may apply and these will have been discussed with you at the time of booking.

What you do - on the day

Diet
Eating and drinking prior to a blood test can affect the results. You should therefore eat only a piece of dry toast and drink only water in the six hours before your appointment. You should avoid eating anything during the two hours before your appointment.

We will provide light refreshments for you after the test.

Please note that diabetics on medication should not fast or alter their diet in any way prior to their assessment.

Cardiorespiratory exercise test
Your body's responses to exercise can be affected by recent exercise and smoking. In order to ensure that the information we gather during the exercise test is of the highest quality, please avoid as far as possible any strenuous physical activity during the 12 hours before your appointment and smoking during the two hours before your appointment.

Please bring some exercise kit with you including shorts, a loose-fitting top and sports shoes. Women should not wear one-piece garments such as leotards.

The majority of people will undertake the exercise test. However, for your own comfort and safety, if you have certain medical conditions we may advise you not to have the test. Please ensure that you read through the factsheet.
Cardiorespiratory exercise test factsheet

Glasses and contact lenses
We will be checking your vision so, if you wear glasses or contact lenses, please bring them with you.

Medicines
If you are taking any medication please continue to do so.

Mammogram (for women aged over 40 or whose employer may have paid)
You may have chosen to have a special X-ray called a mammogram. You should not use a spray deodorant or talcum powder on the day of your assessment as these may affect the quality of the mammogram image. You may however use a roll-on deodorant without causing any problems. If you are under 40, the doctor may recommend a mammogram if you have a family history of breast disease, in which case it would be advisable for you to observe the guidelines mentioned above. The factsheet provides important information about the mammogram.
Mammogram factsheet

Chest X-ray
This is no longer an automatic inclusion in a health assessment. Research has indicated that chest X-rays taken on people without any chest symptoms do not provide any useful information and may potentially be harmful because of unnecessary exposure to radiation. Your doctor will advise you on this.

Payment
If you are paying for your assessment yourself please ensure that you bring a method of payment with you on the day. You may pay by cash, cheque (payable to BUPA Wellness) or by any of the following credit, debit or charge cards - Visa, Mastercard, Switch, Delta, American Express or Diners Club.

When you arrive

Please ensure that you bring your completed health questionnaire with you to your assessment.

When you arrive at the centre, you will be greeted by our receptionist who will take your health questionnaire and ask you to fill in a data protection notice. The receptionist will also check our record of your address and your GP's address.

First of all you will be asked to provide a sample of urine. Please ensure as far as possible that you are able to 'go' when you arrive.

Please try to arrive in good time for your assessment. If you are delayed we will do our best to fit you in but you may need to wait. A map will be sent to you.
Alternatively, you can download a map from "Our locations".

Your health assessment

The Premier Health Assessment offers you an extensive assessment of health and fitness combining all the best elements of preventive health care - from clinical, physiological and lifestyle perspectives. Its unique feature is a cardiorespiratory exercise bike test which will examine in detail the condition of your heart, lungs and metabolism.

So that you can be sure of what to expect from your visit, we have listed below the range of tests and investigations that we will be carrying out during your assessment. These are in addition to your consultation and examination with the doctor.

Please don't hesitate to call us if you have any questions or concerns.

The Premier Health Assessment includes the following:

Heart and lungs
Cardiorespiratory exercise test
Blood pressure and pulse measurement
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Lung function
Cardiovascular risk score
Chest x-ray (only offered if clinically necessary)

Body composition
Height, weight and body mass index
Body fat percentage
Waist to height ratio

Blood and urine
Blood biochemistry profile
Blood haematology profile
Urine profile
Bowel cancer test (over age 45)

Sensory
Vision assessment
Hearing assessment

Diet
Dietary assessment

Specific examinations
For women:
      Breast examination
      Pelvic examination (if clinically indicated)
      Thyroid function blood test (aged 50 or over)
      Cervical smear (if clinically appropriate)
      Rubella antibodies blood test (if clinically appropriate)
      Mammogram (where purchased)
For men:
      Testicular examination
      Prostate cancer blood test (aged 50 or over)