Start your year strong with a health-first approach
Each January brings a chance to reset, renew and prioritise what matters most - and your health should be top of the list.
Today’s busy lifestyles and rising rates of chronic disease mean your body deserves proactive attention, not just reactive care when symptoms arise. In the same way that many of us schedule annual MOTs for our cars or financial reviews at the start of the year, so a comprehensive health check can be one of the smartest investments you can make for your wellbeing and year ahead.
What an annual health check actually does
A health check isn’t just a set of numbers on a page: it’s a proactive tool that looks beneath the surface to find early signs of potentially serious conditions, long before they cause symptoms and become harder to treat. These may include:
High blood pressure, cholesterol irregularities and glucose levels: all key markers for heart disease and diabetes.
Risk factors for serious disease such as cardiovascular disease, stroke or type 2 diabetes.
Indicators of lifestyle impact on overall wellbeing and longer-term health goals.
When these risks are identified early, you and your GP can work together to change the course of your health with targeted advice, dietary changes, tailored exercise plans, or clinical management where needed.
Prevention is better than cure
Research and clinical practice increasingly reinforce what many clinicians have known for years: preventative health care is one of the most effective strategies for maintaining long-term wellness and avoiding avoidable illness later in life.
This isn’t just about checking boxes, it’s about empowering you to make informed decisions about your health, with the benefit of personalised insights from a GP who understands your medical history and lifestyle.
Most importantly, a comprehensive health check can help you take meaningful action well before serious issues take hold. In turn, this can lead to improved treatment outcomes, reduced future healthcare costs and enhanced quality of life.
Why now is the perfect time
January invokes a sense of ‘fresh starts’ and what better time to see where your health stands right now? Many people experience a surge in motivation at the start of the year: new fitness routines, improved eating habits and renewed focus on wellbeing. A health check fits naturally into this rhythm by:
Benchmarking your current health profile
Giving you a clear “starting line” for your year ahead
Providing direction on what steps will make the most difference
Helping you avoid playing catch-up later on
In other words, you’re not just checking for problems, you’re setting yourself up for a healthier and more confident year.
Private vs NHS health assessments
The NHS offers periodic “mid-life MOT” health checks for specific age groups, designed to screen for common conditions like heart disease and diabetes. However, attendance has been low, and they are usually offered at five-year intervals with standard risk assessments. In contrast, private health checks, like those offered here at The Hove Practice, can be more detailed, flexible and personalised. They can also be scheduled at a time that suits you, include broader testing and provide GP-led interpretation and follow-up.
What a comprehensive health check can include
An annual health check isn’t a one-off event, it’s an anchor for your ongoing preventative health strategy. A full assessment is more than a quick blood pressure reading: it’s a holistic approach which gives you the full picture, not just snapshots, helping you understand which areas to prioritise. It may include:
Blood tests to check cholesterol, blood sugar and organ health
Cardiovascular assessments, including ECGs where appropriate
Body composition measurements such as BMI and waist circumference
Lifestyle and risk factor reviews, including diet, exercise, stress and family history
A personalised report with clear next steps and recommendations
Beyond the clinical detail, a comprehensive health check also helps establish a meaningful, ongoing relationship between you and our practice. It gives you the chance to really get to know how we work and what matters to us, while allowing our team to understand you as a person, not just a set of results. This shared understanding creates continuity of care at a practice level, supporting high levels of trust and a strong, ongoing patient-practice relationship.
Take Control of Your Health in 2026
We offer comprehensive health assessments tailored to your needs, whether you’re aiming to fine-tune an already healthy lifestyle or uncover and address risks before they become problems. If you have questions about booking your 2026 health assessment, our Reception Team would love to help:
Contact our front desk on 01273 733830
Email us at reception@thehovepractice.co.uk
Book online via our website www.thehovepractice.co.uk/bookonline
Pop in and see us: 86 Church Road, Hove, BN3 2EB