What is a preventive health review?
A preventive health review is a structured conversation about your current health, medical and family history, lifestyle, vaccinations, and relevant risk factors.
The purpose is not to perform every available test. It is to identify evidence-informed screening and prevention measures that are appropriate for your age and circumstances.
What may be included
The content of a review varies between individuals. Your practitioner may discuss measurements, laboratory tests, screening programmes, or lifestyle factors when they are relevant.
- Blood pressure and cardiovascular risk
- Relevant blood tests
- Age-appropriate cancer screening
- Vaccination history
- Sleep, movement, nutrition, and alcohol use
- Mental wellbeing
- Family medical history
More testing is not always better
Tests can sometimes identify changes that would never have caused harm, produce uncertain findings, or lead to further procedures. A good screening decision weighs potential benefits against limitations and possible harms.
Ask your practitioner why a test is being considered, what the result could mean, and whether the outcome would change your care.
Preparing for a preventive review
Bring information about your medicines, previous diagnoses, recent results, vaccinations, and family history where known. Follow any fasting or preparation instructions supplied by the clinic.
General Practitioner. This article was last reviewed on August 14, 2026.