Health checks and preventive care in Kilmore
Most of what shortens people’s lives is quiet for years before it makes itself known. A health check is how you find those things while they are still easy to do something about.
Why a regular check is worth the hour
High blood pressure has no symptoms. Neither does high cholesterol, or the years of gradually rising blood sugar that lead to type 2 diabetes. By the time any of them announce themselves, you have usually lost the easy window.
A health check is not a long list of tests for the sake of it. Your GP works out which numbers actually matter for you – based on your age, your family history and how you live – then measures those, explains what they mean, and tells you what would move them.
For some people that conversation ends with “come back in a year”. For others it picks up something worth acting on now. Both are a good outcome, and you only find out which one you are by going.
Who this is for
- Adults who have not had a check in a year or more
- Anyone with a family history of heart disease, stroke or diabetes
- People over 45, when several screening programmes begin
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients of any age, for whom an annual health assessment is available
- Anyone starting a new exercise programme or trying to lose weight
- New patients who want a baseline before anything goes wrong
What happens at a health check
A proper history
Your GP asks what you have had, what runs in your family, what you take, and how you are actually living – sleep, alcohol, activity, stress. This is the part that decides which tests are worth doing.
Measurements on the day
Blood pressure, weight, waist measurement, and a heart and chest examination. Simple, quick, and more informative than people expect.
Tests where they add something
Blood tests for cholesterol, blood sugar, kidney and liver function, and iron where it is relevant. Your GP explains why each one is being ordered rather than handing you a form.
The screening you are due
Your GP checks you against the national programmes – bowel, cervical and breast screening – and sorts out anything outstanding. Bowel screening is free every two years from 45 to 74, but only posted out automatically from 50, so people in their late forties often have not been offered it.
A plan you can actually follow
Results are explained in plain language, with the one or two changes that would make the biggest difference. If you need a referral, a care plan or a recall in six months, that gets set up before you leave.
Book a check if
- It has been more than a year, or you cannot remember the last one
- A parent or sibling has had a heart attack, stroke or diabetes diagnosis
- You are turning 40, 45 or 50 and want to know where you stand
- You have put on weight, or your energy is not what it was
- Your workplace, insurer or licence requires a medical
- You are 45 or older and have never done a bowel screening test
Before your appointment
Ask for a longer appointment when you book, so there is time to do it properly. Bring a list of your medications and supplements, any recent results from another clinic, and anything you know about your family history. If blood tests are likely, reception can tell you whether to fast.
Related services at All Care
All Care Medical and Dental Centre is at 3 Powlett St, Kilmore VIC 3764, with GP-led medical care and dental services at the same clinic. We welcome new patients from Kilmore, Broadford, Wallan, Wandong, Lancefield, Romsey, Beveridge, Hidden Valley, Heathcote Junction and Pyalong. Book online or call +61 3 9115 2979.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I have a health check?
There is no single answer, because each check has its own interval. Blood pressure is usually every one to two years for healthy adults, cholesterol less often, and the national screening programmes run on their own schedules. Your GP works out what you are actually due for, which is usually less than people expect and occasionally more.
Am I eligible for a Medicare health assessment?
Medicare funds structured health assessments for particular groups, including patients aged 45 to 49 with a risk factor for chronic disease, everyone over 75, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients of any age. Your GP can check whether you qualify.
Do I need to fast before my appointment?
Only if blood tests are planned, and not always then. Ask reception when you book – it is easier than turning up hungry unnecessarily, or eating when you should not have.
Is All Care accepting new patients?
Yes. All Care welcomes new patients from Kilmore and the surrounding towns. Book online or call reception, and allow a longer first appointment so your GP can take a full history.
Book an appointment at All Care
New patients are welcome. Book online, or call our reception team if you are not sure which appointment you need.