Many of you will be in the midst of supporting your teens through GCSEs and A-levels, natural milestones towards adulthood and independence. The likelihood is that, if they have been fit and well throughout childhood, they probably have not had much in the way of health screening.
Whether finishing school, heading to university, taking a gap year or even starting work, this transition period is the ideal time to take stock of their health. It is valuable window for early screening, prevention, and building confidence in managing their own personal healthcare.
At Sloane Street Surgery, we offer tailored adolescent health reviews to help set young people up for a healthy, independent future.
Why is it important to do a health screen at this age?
The late teenage years often bring dramatic shifts, physically, emotionally, and socially. It’s also when some health conditions first emerge or lifestyle patterns become ingrained.
A structured health check at this stage helps ensure nothing is missed and encourages young people to take ownership of their health. It also provides a good “baseline of health” which is useful to refer back to in later years. Importantly, the results and documentation from these checks can often be used to support medical forms for schools, universities, summer camps or sports programmes.
What age is it best to do an adolescent health screen and how often?
We would normally suggest a comprehensive screening, including blood tests, once between the ages of 16-21. Repeat screening would depend on the results. Many of our patients engage in annual health checks throughout childhood but for a fit and healthy child, every few years would suffice.
What does a health screen at this age involve?
- Review of mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
- Stress, anxiety, sleep, screen time, and mood
- Support for exam stress or life transitions
- Signposting and early intervention when needed
- We also check for concerns around focus, attention and concentration and explore whether any difficulties might need further evaluation (for example ADHD or executive function issues).
- Assessment of physical Health
- Height, weight, BMI, blood pressure, and growth tracking
- Nutrition and activity review
- Comprehensive screening blood tests to give a baseline of overall health.
- Spine check for Adolescent Scoliosis
- We check spinal alignment annually during growth spurts, particularly in girls, to monitor for early signs of scoliosis, something that often goes unnoticed without screening.
- Sexual Health and Reproductive Advice
- Education about puberty, periods, hormones, and acne
- Contraceptive counselling
- Confidential sexual health screening if appropriate
- Support for young people navigating new relationships and consent
- Review of vaccinations and catch up if any have been missed
We ensure all routine childhood vaccinations have been administered. Commonly missed ones are:
- HPV vaccine (offered to both boys and girls)
- Meningitis ACWY
- Meningitis B vaccine (only introduced into routine schedule in 2015) so may have been missed by older teens.
- Td/IPV boosters (Tetanus, Diptheria, Polio)
- Travel vaccinations, for those heading abroad.
- Cardiac (heart) Screening
While rare, undiagnosed heart conditions can sometimes cause issues in late teens and early adulthood, particularly in sporty individuals or those with a family history of cardiac events.
We offer:
- Resting ECGs in-house
- Referral for echocardiogram or exercise ECG if indicated
- Advice on red flags: unexplained fainting, chest pain during exertion, palpitations, or family history of sudden cardiac death
This is especially important for adolescents engaging in competitive sport.
- Lifestyle and risk assessment
- Discussion about vaping, smoking and recreational drug use in a non-judgemental, confidential space
- Alcohol and substance use guidance tailored to age and exposure
- Sleep habits, screen time, and social media use
- Preparing for Independence
- We aim to encourage health independence as teens mature. Many older adolescents are encouraged to come in on their own for at least part of the appointment, giving them the chance to ask questions privately. Of course, parents are welcome to accompany them and stay involved as much as is preferred.
- Help with repeat prescriptions or managing chronic conditions (e.g. asthma, eczema, migraines)
- Building confidence in navigating the healthcare system
- Education about privacy and confidentiality from age 16+
How long does this appointment last?
A routine adolescent health check can be completed during a standard 30 minute consultation. However, it is important to note that there would not be time to discuss specific health conditions, and a longer or separate appointment would need to be booked for this. Additional tests such as detailed cardiac screening would be arranged separately.
Can I book with any doctor at Sloane Street Surgery?
Yes. All our doctors are experienced in working with both young people and their parents to create a supportive, reassuring environment. We can tailor each appointment to what’s relevant — no unnecessary tests, just thoughtful, individualised care.
I have seen that you offer home blood tests. Can this check be done from home?
If bringing your teenager to London is difficult, you can arrange for blood tests to be taken at home. This would not involve a doctor’s consultation or discussion of the topics mentioned above but would give a “biochemical baseline” of current health.
With our sister company “Explore My Health” you can arrange for a blood sample to be taken at home, anywhere in the country. The “Health Explorer” panel is a comprehensive set of blood tests that would be appropriate for teenagers over 16 and the doctor-interpreted results are available in a personalised app for your teen. This could be a helpful option for teens looking to take control of their health discreetly and in their own time.
If you’d like any more information about health checks for teenagers, please do call us on 0207 245 9333 or you can book an appointment online here.
About the author
MBBS BSc MRCGP DFSRH
“We have the luxury of time, both to spend with our patients in consultation and afterwards, to ensure their medical needs are met quickly and efficiently and by the right person”.
Having worked in multiple specialities across London hospitals, my particular interests now lie in paediatric and teenage care, women’s health, acute medicine, disease prevention and psychiatry.
I enjoy all aspects of General Practice but particularly looking after whole families: from newborns to grandparents, helping people when they need it most, quickly, efficiently, and kindly.
