The last year has been pretty tough for me health wise. This time around a year ago, I contracted Covid. Earlier this year I was hospitalised in Egypt with an abdominal infection. And to top it all off, a few months ago, I was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy.
In between all of this I turned 40, and it felt as good a time as any to book myself in for a health check. I wanted a test that was quick and easy, that covered a lot, and after doing some research, I decided to book in with Bluecrest Wellness for one of their Health MOT's.
Their reviews were very good, and I also found the prices very reasonable, considering what you get. Here are the three Bluecrest Health MOT’s you can purchase. I went for the core package:
I wanted to get a fair amount covered, but didn't feel I needed the separate GP sit down, which the complete package offers.
So, I decided to go for the Core program, and I was very happy with my decision. Let me paint a story of my Bluecrest Wellness appointment, what was involved, and how everything worked after you're seen.
Booking your Appointment:
So, I navigated my way to the Bluecrest Wellness website, selected the package I wanted (Core, as mentioned), and after that step, you're prompted to enter your location.
You'll then be given a very substantial list of possible options, and what I did like, various dates to choose from. You simply select the time and date that works for you (as mentioned, there are lots of options available, including weekends), pay for your booking, and that's it!
You then get a very detailed booking confirmation email sent over, and what I liked here, was the amount of information that was included.
As well as your confirmation of what you've booked, there is a section entitled 'Preparation for your appointment', which covers so many of the questions that might have popped into your head.
Some of these include guidance regarding eating and drinking, whether or not you should keep taking your prescribed medication (spoiler, you can) and what to do if you're feeling unwell before your appointment. There is also a number provided to contact if needed, which was a nice touch.
The other sections included in the aforementioned email were 'At the Venue', 'Your Health Assessment' and 'Your Results'.
'At the Venue', unsurprisingly enough, provides instructions on when to arrive, parking, and once again provides you with a number to call if you might need to reschedule etc.
'Your Health Assessment' explains what will happen during your appointment, so you can have a better idea of what to expect during your session. There is also a link to additional tests that Bluecrest offers during your screening. These tests are NOT included as part of your package, and can be purchased separately when you get to your appointment. Here is a link to the additional tests.
This might feel like an 'upsell' to some, but I didn't really get that impression. I will expand on the additional tests later on in this review.
The last section, 'Your Results', is again pretty self explanatory. It explains the timeline for when you can expect your results and where you will receive them. It also lets you know that if anything concerning is identified, that you will receive a phone call before the rest of your results are processed.
This was a really nice touch I felt, even if it meant I was slightly terrified every time my phone made a noise!
I think the Bluecrest options are very reasonable, but having this type of detail before your appointment made it feel a bit more 'premium'.
Now, let's talk about the actual appointment!
The Appointment:
I am currently working in London, so I booked my appointment here. My session took place at their Strand location, at Thanet House.
The exact address is 231-232 Strand, and it was easy enough to find the building. I got off at Temple tube station, and it’s around a 5/10 minute walk from there.
There was no Bluecrest sign or anything, so around 15 minutes before my appointment, I pressed the reception button, explained what I was here for, and made my way inside. I then waited, before being greeted by my very friendly health assessment specialist.
My first impressions upon entering the room where the health check takes place, was that it was spotlessly clean. I know you’d expect a place like this to be clean, and you’d be slightly worried if it wasn’t, but it was almost twinkling it was that shiny.
After the initial niceties, removing my jacket and cap etc, I was sat down to answer some health and lifestyle questions. These are the types of questions you’d absolutely expect to be asked in a scenario like this, and a lot of them were genetic based (whether any of your immediate relatives have had this or that illness/condition etc).
I was asked my blood type, which of course I didn’t know. So, if you don’t know it, it wouldn’t hurt to try and find out. Saying that, it’s not a big deal if like me, you’re not sure.
After this, came the chance to purchase some additional tests (the ones I linked to above). Again, this was very relaxed, and I didn’t feel pressured to purchase anything. I was offered to add three tests to my screening, one for your thyroid, a vitamin D one, and the last one I can’t quite remember, but I think it was blood related.
I didn’t feel I needed the Vitamin D one, as I travel a lot, am often in the sunshine etc, and I also declined the chance to purchase the additional blood test.
I did purchase the Thyroid one, though. As mentioned at the top of this post, it has been a harder year health wise, and I’ve recently turned 40. I know the thyroid can be linked to a number of health issues, so I thought it was a great time to get this looked at. If I’m taking the time to have a health MOT, I may as well cover as much as I can.
This cost an additional £49, which on top of the £189 cost of my MOT, comes to £238. For me, and taking in mind everything you receive, I thought this was really good value.
My specialist was very friendly, so don’t feel bad if you say no to these extra tests. I know us British struggle with situations like this, but don’t feel forced (as mentioned, it wasn’t pushy at all) to purchase any additional extras, as the Health MOT programs already cover a lot.
The Tests:
So, after the health and lifestyle questions, it was on to the actual tests! First up was height. Very straightforward as one would imagine. Shoes come off, and you stand straight up against the height measuring device, and that’s that.
Following that, it was the BMI/weight check. Again, it was just a question of standing in the right position, and letting the machine do its thing.
Next up, I was asked to move to the examination couch/table and to lay down. I thought it was blood taking time, but alas no, we saved that for last.
Instead, it was blood pressure time! They put sleeves on both the arm (as normal), and the leg for the test, which was novel for me, as I don’t think I’ve had the blood pressure in my leg tested previously.
I was warned that the leg one would get quite tight, which it did, but it wasn’t anything that wasn’t manageable.
Still on the examination couch, it was time to check the heart. I had a number of electrodes and pads stuck to me, had to take a deep breath, keep still, and the machine measured a whole host of things.
First time around, the machine struggled to get an accurate reading, as I think I wasn’t still enough (It's always hard to stay still, when you're told to stay still). Second time around, we were good to go.
I think I have the timeline right, and the last test was indeed the blood test. I have to say, as much as having blood taken is never a super fun task, my healthcare specialist did a great job with it.
Pain was minimal, it didn’t take long, and just like that, the worst bit of the screening had been completed!
All in all, it took around 25 minutes, pretty much as advertised, and my screening was complete.
Test Results:
I can’t lie, it is of course a bit of a nervous wait for your results. But, the great thing about Bluecrest Wellness is, you get your results back very quickly.
I did my test on a Friday afternoon, and I had my results back Wednesday afternoon. Considering just how much is covered, I found this to be amazing service. There’s no waiting around for weeks, you get your results in days, and this is a lot better for the nervous system.
As mentioned at the top, Bluecrest Wellness will also call you if there are any concerning results. This does mean that there is a lot of phone watching for a few days, but again, you don’t have to wait too long for the full results to come.
When they do arrive, you get a text and an email telling you your results are ready, and to log-in into your Bluecrest account, where you can access everything.
You log-in, and straight away your eyes are drawn to an overall graph, which shows your overall results. Here is what mine looked like, and immediately you have a good idea of what you can expect from your results:
Considering the year I’ve had, I was very happy to see the above, and while I won’t go into my specific health results, as you can see, there is a hell of a lot covered here.
To view a more detailed look at your results, you just click the big ‘View Results’ button, and you’re taken to a separate page which breaks things down further for you. Let me show you a bit more of what you can access when you get your results below.
So, this section does feature my personal results, and as much as I love the readers of this blog, I’m not going to share my medical history! But, I can list every section that features here, and as a reminder, I purchased the ‘Core’ package.
Here’s what you get results for:
Biometric Analysis
Blood Health Profile
Blood Pressure
Energy, Muscles and Bones
Essential Proteins and Iron
Fasting Lipid Profile
HbA1c
Heart Disease and Stroke Risk
Heart Rhythm
Kidney Function
Liver Function
Lung Function
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Thyroid Function
Uric Acid
And, here’s what a section of the above page looks like:
Each of the above sections can be clicked once again (by clicking the ‘View Full Results’ button), giving you an even bigger breakdown. Side note, I was very pleased to see the green results in the ‘Liver Function’ section, as I’ve been sober for a year, and I wasn’t sure what damage 20+ years of drinking might have done.
I was amazed by just how detailed each section was, and here is a little glimpse of what you see when you view this page:
You’re clearly shown where your figure lies, and shown what colour corresponds to your placement. I also liked the section on the right which expands a little more on your result. For someone like myself, who is not very medical literate, this was very useful to read, and I felt this provided me with a deeper understanding of what each result actually meant.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure exactly what you’d receive with one of these Bluecrest Wellness Health MOTs, I just knew I wanted to do something. I’m really thrilled with the service I’ve received, which I will sum up in my final thoughts section.
Aftercare:
So, as mentioned earlier in this review, you’re also given the opportunity to download your results, which despite being a small touch, is a welcome one.
As part of my Bluecrest health check, I also have access to a GP helpline, available 24/7 and for 365 days after you receive your results. For people like myself, who are often away from their home GP, this is a huge plus, and whilst I was solely focussed on the Health MOT, this is a great perk of the package.
I’ve yet to use this service, but if/when I do, I will be sure to update with my thoughts. This service alone is probably worth hundreds of pounds a year, so to have it for essentially free, is a big win.
Just a note, this GP service isn’t designed for asking questions regarding your health MOT. This is a separate service, available as part of the complete package.
Final Thoughts:
Firstly, I would like to point out that this is an independent review. I paid for the Health MOT myself, and I haven’t received anything from Bluecrest Wellness for writing this, these are my own thoughts.
I wanted to clarify the above, as this has been a very positive review, but I can honestly say, this was a very rewarding experience.
The whole process was very smooth, from booking my appointment, to finding a venue, to having the tests, and then finally, receiving the results. Everything was so quick, and within a week of being seen, I had received my results. I now know what I need to work on to turn those reds and ambers into greens, and this is also something I found valuable.
You’re given a clear breakdown of what each result means, and this leaves you knowing what you need to improve health wise. It wasn’t just a generic breakdown, it was detailed, and more importantly, it felt personal. Yes, I’m sure a lot of these results are machine generated, but they’re incredibly thorough, they’re easily explained, and as mentioned, for someone who doesn’t understand a lot of the words in the Health MOT, this was appreciated.
Finally, if there is anything I haven’t covered, or if you have a question on Bluecrest Wellness Health MOTs, feel free to leave a comment, or send me a message, and I’ll be happy to help!
Thank you :)
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