Annual Health Checks - Your health matters

This is a routine health assessment done by a doctor or nurse once a year. It's important that everyone over the age of 14 who is one the doctor's learning disability register has an annual health check.

The check is designed to help you stay healthy by identifying any problems early. The check may review:

• Weight and height
• Blood pressure
• Urine
• Your heart and breathing
• Eyes and ears
• Your lifestyle
• Current medications

If you (or the person you support) is over 14 and has a learning disability they should have been invited for an annual health check. You should contact your doctor's surgery to make sure that:

• You (or the person you support) is on the learning disability register
• You (or the person you support) is identified as having a learning disability
• That your surgery offers annual health checks, and if not ask which surgeries in the area can provide one.

Anyone aged 14 or over who is on their doctor's learning disability register can have a free annual health check once a year.

You can ask to go on this register if you think you have a learning disability.

Check with your doctor's practice if you or the person you care for is on the register.

Adults and young people aged 14 or over with a learning disability who are on the doctor's practice learning disability register should be invited by their doctor to come for an annual health check.

Most doctors offer annual health checks to people with a learning disability. But they do not have to offer this service. If your doctor's practice has not offered you an annual health check, you can ask them if you can have one.

If they say no, ask your local community learning disability team to help you get one. You can also ask your doctor if there's another GP surgery in your area that provides health checks.

No. You can choose if you want to have an annual health check or not.

You can ask the doctor or nurse for more information about annual health checks before you decide. You'll be asked if you are OK (give your consent) with having any tests, vaccinations or procedures before you have them.