NEVER mind the car's MOT – the most important vehicle that gets you from A to B every day is your body. More Scots than ever are booking themselves in for an annual medical. Such an assessment can be an employment perk, but for many it's a personal decision to take a preventative approach to ill-health.
A range of health checks is available from NHS surgeries, and patients in many areas also benefit from the Keep Well initiative. Funded by the Scottish Government to the tune of £2m, the scheme is a pilot project where patients in the 45-64 age brack
et have a 40-minute appointment, where they are given a range of health assessments. These include checks on height and weight, blood pressure, pulse, family history, blood samples, hormones and bowels. There is also a holistic slant.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Our approach is to target health checks towards those at greatest risk. We are working on ways of identifying other groups who would benefit from similar interventions. Anyone who is worried about their health should speak to their local GP."
Full body checks are thriving in the private sector, too. Julie Campbell, a Bupa spokeswoman, says her organisation has been offering health assessments for 18 years, and the typical 'classic' assessment comprises 36 tests. About 60% of clients are corporate, but the rest are personal clients who pay for the service themselves. The aim of the assessment, she says, is to provide patients with a snapshot of their health and offer guidance on how to maintain or improve it. "There's very little now that can't be treated," she says. "So if anything untoward does turn up, our staff will be able to give you reassurance and help you take steps to get better."
Full medical examinations are also offered at some private GP surgeries, such as Medicalternative in Edinburgh. Dr Lyndsey Myskow says that many of her clients who opt for an annual MOT feel better for having a clearer picture of their health.
"People often know what they should and shouldn't be doing," she says, "but sometimes coming here and having a sensible discussion with a doctor about it is enough to motivate them."
Medicalternative's full examination costs from £325, while Bupa's health assessments start at £480. It's a considerable investment – but can you put a price on good health?
Gordon Robertson, 55, an estate manager from Ross-shire, recently decided to have a health assessment with Medicalternative. He says he feels it's money well spent. "I felt reassured but also more conscious of the little things I can do to make my life more enjoyable," he says. "As a result, I walk a bit further, I walk a bit faster and I eat a little bit less – and I feel better for it."
• For more information, see
www.bupa.co.uk and
www.medicalternative.comCASE STUDY: Paul GoodwinTREATING his body to an annual MOT is something 48-year-old Paul Goodwin, from Kippen, feels strongly about. He was the first customer to have a full medical examination at Medicalternative in Edinburgh – something the private practice offers as part of its annual membership. It is available to non-members for a one-off fee.
Patients complete a lifestyle and medical history questionnaire in advance, and the examination includes height, weight, blood pressure, vision and hearing checks, as well as cardiovascular, neurological, respiratory, orthopaedic and gastrointestinal assessments.
Goodwin appreciates having a chance to discuss issues he wouldn't want to bother his GP with. For instance, he'd been having a problem with his knee locking, and this was something he was able to discuss during his assessment. "The doctor explained what the problem was likely to be and that it was nothing to worry about. It gives you a chance to discuss small issues and, oddly enough, every year there does seem to be something on my mind."
One year, a small lump in his mouth was found to be a harmless polyp and he was referred to a dental hospital to have it removed. He has also discovered that he's mildly asthmatic and that he needs to keep an eye on his cholesterol levels. "Cholesterol is one of those things that you need help with," he says. "Having someone there to give you good advice and say, 'Eat more fruit', 'Eat brown bread rather than white', and so on… it sounds simple, but when your doctor is saying it to your face, it gives you the impetus to make changes."
Some test results are available on the day, and can be discussed there and then, and a follow-up appointment is included to go over other matters arising from the results. "It's very one-to-one," says Goodwin. "You build up a relationship with the doctor and you'll chat about general health issues. It paints a picture for them of your lifestyle.
"And being ahead of the game, rather than waiting for symptoms to appear, has to be positive in terms of treatment. Three years ago, my business partner developed prostate cancer – the doctors could have done something about it if they'd found it early enough, but unfortunately they didn't. That made it all the more pertinent for me to have the check-ups. I would actively encourage other people to do the same."
CASE STUDY: Linda PirieIF YOU rigorously brush and floss your teeth in the run-up to a dentist's appointment, you can probably imagine that having a health assessment leads to similar behaviour. "Three weeks before the appointment, I was going to the gym five times a week," says Linda Pirie, 47, from Stonehaven. She and her husband George first had health assessments nine years ago, and have returned every three years since.
As well as the final flurry of exercise, Pirie admits that she and George can be quite competitive about their results, striving to see who has the lower cholesterol or better fitness.
The couple undergo Bupa Premier health assessments at Spire Murrayfield Hospital in Edinburgh, which incorporates heart and lung checks, a blood analysis to test for conditions such as raised cholesterol, diabetes, gout, and liver and kidney problems. Hearing and vision are checked, and a body composition profile is created. For women, a cervical smear is included, and a mammogram is available for an extra fee.
A cardio-respiratory test is carried out on an exercise bike to assess the efficiency of the heart, lungs, metabolism, circulation and muscles. This provides a measurement of aerobic fitness and can help doctors identify any areas of concern, including the early stages of heart disease.
"Getting these tests done in one go appeals to me," says Pirie. "You wouldn't normally get a mammogram done under the NHS until you're 50, but I always opt for one as there is a history of breast cancer in my family." She says a mammogram once showed an anomaly and a biopsy was required. "It turned out to be nothing," she says. "But if it had been, it would have been caught very early."
Pirie explains that many of the test results are given on the day, allowing doctors to discuss any areas of concern and make suggestions. At one appointment, her cholesterol was found to be slightly elevated and, although the doctors weren't worried because her fitness levels were high, they did say it was something to keep an eye on and work towards reducing.
"They build up a picture of your health over a period of time, so if there are any dramatic changes, they'll spot them and do more tests to find out what's going on," she says.
Pirie acknowledges that the price might make the assessment unobtainable to some – the Bupa Premier costs £655 – but she feels it's worth it. "It's not within everybody's reach, but it's about prioritising and what's right for you," she says.
