What is an over 50s health check?
An over 50s health check looks at health markers that can change with age, including blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, heart rhythm, and liver and kidney function. Alongside the NHS checks you’re eligible for, a private Health MOT can give you a broader picture of your health and a baseline to track over time.
If you’re considering a health check in your 50s or beyond, it helps to know what the NHS already offers, which additional tests may be useful and what’s included in a private assessment.
What Tests and Assessments Are Included in an Over 50s Health Check?
The tests included depend on the provider and package you choose. At Bluecrest Wellness, a Health MOT combines blood tests and other measurements to help you understand different aspects of your health.
Depending on the package, a Bluecrest Health MOT includes:
- Blood pressure: measures the pressure of blood in your arteries.
- Body composition: estimates your body fat, muscle and bone mineral mass.
- Heart rhythm (ECG): records the electrical activity of your heart.
- Heart disease and stroke risk: uses health measurements and blood results to help assess relevant risk factors.
- Cholesterol and diabetes markers: includes cholesterol testing and HbA1c, which reflects average blood sugar levels over the previous two to three months.
- Liver and kidney function: measures markers that provide information about how these organs are working.
- Proteins and iron: checks selected markers associated with nutritional status and other aspects of health.
- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD): an assessment of circulation, available to eligible customers aged 40-79.
- Lung function: checks lung function, available to eligible customers under 80.
- Results Report: explains your results and provides guidance on what they may mean.
The package you choose determines which tests are included. All three general Health MOTs include access to the 24/7 GP helpline for 12 months. The Complete Health MOT also includes a private GP consultation.
A Bluecrest Health MOT does not include a mammogram or a general physical examination. Breast screening and other NHS screening programmes remain important, even if you have a private health assessment.
Why Is a Health Check Important After 50?
The likelihood of some health conditions increases with age, although your individual risk depends on factors such as family history, lifestyle and existing health conditions. Regular checks can help you understand your health markers, spot changes and decide whether to seek further advice.
A health check may help you:
- Understand your risk factors: results for blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar can highlight areas to discuss with your GP.
- Track changes over time: comparing results from different assessments can help you see how your health markers change.
- Review your lifestyle: results may give you useful information when considering changes to your diet, activity levels or other habits.
- Know when to seek advice: an unexpected result can be a reason to speak to your GP about whether further investigation is needed.
- Maintain healthy habits: reassuring results can provide evidence that your current approach is working well for the markers measured.
A health assessment cannot diagnose or rule out every condition. It also cannot guarantee that a condition will be prevented. Its value lies in helping you understand the results and decide what to do next.
What Do Bluecrest's Results Show About Health After 50?
Bluecrest's own customer data shows that some health markers flagged in assessments become more common with age.
Cholesterol flags rise with age - from 39.5% in 18-34s to 60.8% in over-55s. (Bluecrest Wellness Health Assessment Data, January 2022 to July 2026.)
Red-flag high blood pressure results also become more common with age, rising from 9.5% among under-35s to 37.8% among over-55s.
These figures relate to Bluecrest customers who took a Health Assessment, not the UK population as a whole. They don't predict your individual results, but they illustrate why keeping track of health markers can be useful as you get older.
A Health Check Can Help You Understand What Comes Next
A health assessment can offer reassurance, but it can also highlight something you hadn't considered. Peter's experience is one example: an ECG during his Bluecrest Health Assessment flagged atrial fibrillation, despite him having no symptoms.
“I had no idea!”
Peter contacted Bluecrest's GP service and was advised to see his own GP. His story shows how a result can prompt someone to seek further medical advice, even when they feel well.
An assessment is not a substitute for medical care if you have symptoms or a health concern. If you feel unwell, speak to your GP rather than waiting for a routine health check.
Where Can I Have a Health Check If I'm Over 50?
If you're over 50, you can access NHS services you're eligible for or choose a private health assessment. These options serve different purposes, and a private check should complement NHS care rather than replace it.
What Does the NHS Offer After 50?
In England, the NHS offers several screening programmes and health checks that may be relevant in your 50s and beyond.
- NHS Health Check: eligible adults aged 40-74 are generally invited every five years. It's free and assesses risk factors for conditions including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and type 2 diabetes.
- Bowel cancer screening: people aged 50-74 are sent a home test kit every two years in England. Complete and return your kit when it arrives, even if you feel well.
- Breast screening: eligible people are invited from age 50 up to their 71st birthday in England. People aged 71 and over can request screening.
- Cervical screening: continues for eligible people with a cervix within the NHS programme's age range, generally 25-64 in England.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening: men are invited for screening in the year they turn 65 in England.
- Lung health checks: targeted checks are being rolled out for eligible people aged 55-74 with a history of smoking. Availability depends on the local programme.
Screening programmes and eligibility rules vary across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The information above applies to England, so check the guidance for where you live.
What Can a Private Health Check Add?
A private Health MOT can bring together a range of tests and measurements in one appointment, with flexibility over booking and a broader set of health markers than an NHS Health Check may cover.
For example, a Bluecrest Health MOT can include an ECG to record heart rhythm, liver and kidney function tests, cholesterol testing and HbA1c. The Complete Health MOT also includes Lipoprotein(a), a type of cholesterol-related particle associated with cardiovascular risk.
Bluecrest also offers a bowel cancer risk test (qFIT) from age 40 and PSA testing for eligible men aged 40-79 through its cancer risk packages. These are private tests, not NHS screening programmes.
Private testing has a cost, and not every test is suitable for everyone. Consider what you want to learn from an assessment and discuss any specific concerns with your GP.
| What the NHS offers from 50 | What a Bluecrest Health MOT can add |
|---|---|
| Bowel screening from 50 to 74 in England, using a home test kit every two years | A wider set of blood tests and measurements in one appointment |
| Breast screening from 50 to the 71st birthday for eligible people in England | ECG heart rhythm testing and additional health markers, depending on package |
| Continued cervical screening for eligible people | Blood pressure, cholesterol, HbA1c, liver and kidney function |
| AAA screening for men in the year they turn 65 | Lipoprotein(a) in the Complete Health MOT |
| Targeted lung health checks for eligible people aged 55–74 with a smoking history, where available | Optional private tests through eligible cancer risk packages, including qFIT and PSA |
Which Bluecrest Health Check Suits Me?
The right option depends on the information you're looking for and the tests you want included. Bluecrest offers three general Health MOTs, plus separate cancer risk packages for eligible men and women.
- Active Health MOT: a general health assessment combining blood tests and non-blood measurements.
- Core Health MOT: a broader package of health tests and measurements.
- Complete Health MOT: includes 37 blood readings, 7 non-blood tests, 12 months of 24/7 GP helpline access and a private GP consultation.
All three packages include a personalised Results Report. Check the package pages for the full list of included tests and support.
Cancer Risk Packages for Men and Women
If you're specifically interested in cancer risk testing, Bluecrest also offers packages for men and women between the ages of 40 and 79.
- Male Cancer Risk Package: includes a range of tests, including PSA testing for eligible men.
- Female Cancer Risk Package: includes a range of tests, including a bowel cancer risk test.
Both packages start from £319, subject to the current package price. There are also Complete versions with additional tests.
You can compare the male cancer risk packages and female cancer risk packages to see what's included.
How Does Bluecrest Wellness Make Over 50s Health Checks Easy?
Bluecrest Health MOTs are designed to make it straightforward to check a range of health markers in one appointment. Health Assessment Specialists carry out the tests, and your Results Report helps you understand the findings.
The assessments cover areas including lung, kidney and liver function, cholesterol, HbA1c, protein and iron. All three general Health MOTs include access to the 24/7 GP helpline for 12 months, while Complete also includes a private GP consultation.
If you're ready to compare your options, visit our Health MOTs page to see what's included and book online.
FAQs
What does the NHS offer when I turn 50?
In England, bowel cancer screening starts at 50, with eligible people aged 50–74 sent a home test kit every two years. Breast screening starts at 50 for eligible people and continues up to their 71st birthday. Cervical screening continues for eligible people within the programme's age range.
Other programmes include the NHS Health Check for eligible adults aged 40–74 and AAA screening for men in the year they turn 65. The arrangements differ across the UK, so check the guidance for where you live.
Is there an upper age limit for a Bluecrest health check?
Bluecrest Health Assessments are available to adults aged 18 and over, and new customers can book up to age 88. Individual tests have their own eligibility criteria: PSA and PAD testing are available to eligible people aged 40–79, the qFIT bowel cancer risk test from age 40, and lung function testing for people under 80. See the Bluecrest exclusions and advice information for details.
Which Bluecrest health check is best for over 50s?
It depends on the tests and support you're looking for. Active, Core and Complete provide different levels of general health testing. Complete includes a private GP consultation, while the male and female cancer risk packages focus on additional cancer risk tests for eligible customers.
Compare the Health MOTs or the female and male cancer risk packages before choosing.
How often should I have a health check after 50?
There isn't one schedule that suits everyone. The NHS Health Check in England is generally offered every five years to eligible adults aged 40–74, while NHS screening programmes have their own schedules. How often you choose a private assessment depends on your health, risk factors and what you want to track.
Your GP can advise if you have an existing condition or a specific health concern.
Do I need to fast before a Bluecrest Health MOT?
No, fasting isn't required for a Bluecrest Health MOT. Follow the preparation instructions provided for your appointment, and let your Health Assessment Specialist know about any relevant medication or health concerns. Don't stop prescribed medication unless a healthcare professional advises you to.
Anna Jones
Chief Nursing Officer, Bluecrest
Graham Jones
Medical Writer
