Health Checks

Sumner Health Centre is delighted to offer a health check service to our patients and to the community at large.

We have examined the best evidence available and come up with a solid health check that is both affordable and based soundly in published evidence. Our health checks are intended for those aged from 30 to 75. If you are outside these age ranges, we can still do a health check for you, and should be pleased to do so, but feel you might be better booking an appointment with one of our doctors instead.

Basic Check. Price $35

Blood Pressure

A key measurement, your blood pressure should be checked to assess your risk of developing heart or kidney disease. High blood pressure also increases your risk of having a stroke. Early treatment reduces your risks - get it checked today!

Pulse

Your pulse rate will vary a lot from time to time. An irregular pulse may indicate atrial fibrillation (more common in older patients). Sometimes we will advise further testing, depending on what is found.

Oxygen Saturation

Our painless finger probe measures what percentage of your blood is carrying oxygen. It can be useful to have a baseline measurement on record in case you become ill. It would be unusual for any unexpected illness to be detected by this test.

Height and Weight, Body Mass Index, Waist Measurement

We can use these measurements to determine whether your weight is appropriate for your height. Although not particularly useful on its own, assessment of your weight-for-height (Body Mass Index, or BMI) is important in helping to identify if you are at higher than average risk of some diseases. Remember that being underweight may cause as many problems as being overweight. An overlarge waist has been shown to increase your risk of heart disease. Of course we check it!

Peak Flow

Simply put, this test measures how much air you can blow out per second. Healthy adults can manage from 400 to 600 Litres per Second. We compare your measurement to published averages and in some circumstances advise spirometry. This is another test that is very useful to have on record as a baseline.

Visual Acuity

A simple eyesight check can detect signs of failing vision before you become aware of them. It is especially useful to have this test on record as a baseline to compare with if you ever have eye problems in the future.

Lifestyle Analysis

Our nurse will discuss your diet and exercise habits and offer suggestions to help you optimise your health. This is the ideal time to ask any questions you may have about your health in general too.

Standard Blood Tests

We recommend most people have a fasting blood test (nothing but water for 9-12 hours before the test) to check Cholesterol and Blood sugar. This helps us to calculate your risk of heart disease or stroke. We usually recommend a blood count to detect anaemia (thin blood) and Creatinine to check your kidney function.

Extra Blood Tests

Some lifestyles lead to an increased risk of liver disease. We will let you know if a liver test is necessary.

Thyroid problems are quite common after the age of 45 (especially in women) and so we advise a thyroid screening test for women over 45 and men over 55. This does not usually need to be repeated more often than every five to ten years.

Sometimes a Ferritin (iron stores test) and Vitamin B12 test is required. This will depend upon your lifestyle analysis.

Prostate Specific Antigen

Some men ask for prostate cancer testing. We are happy to provide this service on request, but we do need to see you first as there is a lot of controversy surrounding the use of this test and it is important you are fully informed first.

To help you decide, we have written a Prostate Screening Factsheet which includes some of the statistical evidence we use in discussing prostate screening.

Extra Tests

Spirometry

Fully featured computerised spriometry is available as an additional test for just $35.

Our digital spirometer is used to detect lung damage caused by ageing, smoking and chest diseases such as asthma and chronic bronchitis.

Early detection of disease is useful as intervention with lifestyle changes and sometimes medication can slow the progress of lung disease.

A baseline test is useful for:

• Patients over 60
• Smokers over 40
• Patients with Asthma or Chronic Lung Disease.

If you think you might require spirometry, and would like to have it done at the same time as your health check, please call the surgery and ask to discuss the test with our nurse. More information about the test can be found on our spirometry page.

ECG

Available as an additional test for $25 when part of your health check (our usual price is $35).

Electrocardiography records the electrical activity of the heart and is used to detect signs of heart disease. Enlargement of the heart, some disturbances of the heart rhythm and some past heart attacks may be detected. There may also be more subtle signs suggesting possible heart disease, but the evidence base for this is weak and the use of the ECG in this way is controversial.

An ECG is recommended for:

• Women over 55 (over 45 if smoker)
• Men over 50 (over 40 if smoker)
• All patients with high blood pressure
• We also do ECGs if you are simply curious or worried

An ECG can be performed as part of your routine health examination and does not require booking in advance. We do appreciate you advising us early on if you would like an ECG though as the result must be checked by our medical staff.

Physical Examination

We have not included a physical examination as there is no evidence to support examining healthy people and it increases the cost substantially. An examination can be very useful though if you have a concern about a specific illness or a specific part of your body.

To arrange this, just ask for an appointment with the doctor for examination after you have seen the nurse. We can usually find a time for you that keeps waiting to a minimum.

Advanced Screening

There are a few additional tests which are occasionaly requested and have some evidence to support them. We do not provide these tests at Sumner Health Centre, but should be delighted to arrange referral for you.

Ovarian Cancer Screening.

Early detection of ovarian cancer is essential if it is to be cured. This disease has almost always spread before it causes symptoms and so some of our patients choose to undergo regular screening ultrasound examinations.

A normal ultrasound scan is reassuring and makes it most unlikely that you have ovarian cancer. There is little guidance as to how often tests should be done so we do need to talk to you in person to discuss any risk factors you may have and your personal preferences. Screening is done by Christchurch Radiology Group. Prices are on their fees page (ultrasound female pelvis and obstetrics).

Aortic Anuerysm Screening.

A swelling of the main blood vessel in your abdomen, the Aorta, aneurysms grow slowly until eventually they burst. Treated early, results are excellent. Leave it too late and the prospects are bleak. Less than half of patients survive a rupture of the aorta in this way. We strongly advise all men over 60 and women over 70 to arrange aortic ultrasound screening so please discuss this with us. The value of the test is proven and the price very reasonable. Screening is done by Christchurch Radiology Group. Prices are on their fees page (ultrasound GB/Upper abdo).

More Information

Our health check is intended to offer both reassurance that you have no detectable disease and the opportunity to find problems before they become serious. As the latter is probably the most important reason for a health check, we have restricted it to those areas for which there is a good body of published evidence supporting what we do. We have chosen to exclude numerous tests which are available but for which there is little or no evidence of benefit as this increases the costs both to you and to the public health system.

If you would like a test that is not mentioned on this page, or feel one should be added to our screen, we will be pleased to consider your request. We recommend that you discuss your requirements with our medical staff. Please feel free to contact us for an appointment.