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Physical Health Checks

If you have a mental health condition such as schizophrenia or bipolar, you may be entitled to free physical health checks with your GP.

SMI physical health checks are available to people living in Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES), Swindon and Wiltshire who are on the Serious Mental Illness Register (SMI Register). Our physical health check coordinators help people access physical health checks and health improvement plans, any follow up appointments, and to develop their personal health improvement plans.

Refer yourself or someone else to our physical health check coordination support service.

To learn more about whether you may be on the SMI Register, and how we can help you access your physical health check, watch the video below and read our frequently asked questions.

The Serious Mental Illness Register (SMI Register) is a confidential list held by your GP practice. It includes adults (18+) who have mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar and psychosis.

If you are on your GP's SMI Register, you are entitled to a free physical health check every year. These checks can help you identify and manage any physical health concerns early, supporting your overall health and wellbeing.

You can check if you're on the SMI Register by asking your GP.

If you're on the SMI Register, your GP may contact you to invite you for an annual physical health check. If you don't receive an invitation, the first thing to do is contact your GP to check you're on the SMI Register. If you are, you can ask to book in your annual physical health check.

We also offer a physical health check coordination support service where we can help you book your annual physical health check and support you before, during and after the appointment.

You can either self-refer to our coordination service, or someone else can refer you (e.g. your support worker).

We can support you at any point in your journey to accessing a physical health check. This can include:

Helping you understanding whether you are on the Serious Mental Illness Register
Finding out whether you are eligible for an annual physical health check
Making your physical health check appointment, e.g. if you're struggling with your GP's phone system or online form
Helping you attend your physical health check appointment, e.g. making sure it's at a convenient time and helping you access public transport
Supporting you during the appointment
Supporting you after the appointment

So, if you're nervous about going to the GP for your physical health check, we can take on some of the challenges and help make the process easier for you. This gives you the chance to sit down with your GP so you can talk about any health concerns and, in the long run, help you become more confident in your physical health.

During your physical health check, your GP will cover six main areas:

Smoking
Alcohol consumption
Body mass index (BMI)
Blood pressure
Heart disease
Diabetes

Your GP will ask questions and may do some basic tests, such as taking your blood pressure, to get a better understanding of your physical health.

You’ll also have time to ask questions and mention anything that may be worrying you about your physical health.

Your physical health check coordinator can come to the appointment to support you if you’d find it helpful.

Your GP may make recommendations that might benefit you, such as lifestyle changes or a follow-up appointment for further screening. They may give you a prescription for medication if you need any.

We can help you understand what your results mean and support you through the next steps. This could include helping you build a routine around things like taking new medication or making lifestyle changes. For example, if your GP recommends taking regular walks, we can help you make a simple plan that fits into your everyday life.

We can also signpost you or connect you with other online or local services. For example, support with stopping smoking, alcohol or drug use.

We can support you after your physical health check dependent on your needs and the goals you’d like to work towards.

Our aim is to help you build the confidence, knowledge and routines you need to manage your physical health yourself.

If your GP makes recommendations to help improve your health, we can make a plan together, led by your goals and what you’d like to achieve. We’ll review your progress along the way with the aim of ending support when you feel ready to move forward on your own.

We’ll always discuss what the end of support looks like and when it will end. For example, once you feel confident in a new routine.

We can also support when your annual physical health check comes around next year, building on your previous support.

Yes. Provided you remain on your GP's Severe Mental Illness (SMI) register, you are entitled to an annual physical health check each year. Second Step can support you again in the future, building on the progress and support you have already received.

You can get in touch with us again for support before your next physical health check, or we may contact you to see whether you’d like our support again – it’s up to you whether you accept.

Refer yourself or someone else to Second Step

To refer yourself or someone else to our physical health check coordination service, you can fill in our online referral form. You can also phone us or email us with any questions or to find out more about what the service involves.

See below for self-referral details and contact details for your local physical health check coordination team:

Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES)

Online referral form

Download referral form

Swindon

Online referral form

Download referral form

Wiltshire

Online referral form

Download referral form