What’s considered the better health check-up these days. I’d like to book in a full health-check-up; being over 40 I can get a free check-up at my GP but I wondered if it was better to book something private?

I need to get back to exercise properly but I can’t shake severe exhaustion; ok work/kids/house move make for stressful times…but nonetheless I would like a decent health check-up to help me plan a way forward.

Can’t say as there is a myriad of private options but anything found on a private medical will either be directed to more ££ services or advised see your GP who will likely have redo what you’ve paid for already.

GP one likely will be general screen but IF you have specific concerns can discuss them and see if they want/ can do further tests.

You’ve already in your post identified ample reason for exhaustion, unfortunately there’s not always a medically identifiable reason.

Do the GP one and see how you feel about it.

I can’t shake severe exhaustion

Is this something you feel may be attributable to a health issue then? If so, you should see your GP with regard to it anyway.

The general GP one will identify and/or rule out any common issues. If you have specific worries, ask the GP/nurse before going private.

Do the free one. If you don’t feel it covered what you wanted to cover either do it again or pay private.

In my experience NHS is best for emergencies, general checks and enquiries.
Private is best if there is a specific problem that needs dealing with.

Example : A ‘person’ fell and injured their shoulder with various other cuts and bruises. NHS x-rayed and saw no breakages, patched up the wounds and sent them home. After a week the shoulder was getting more painful, not less and went to GP. Told it was probably just bruising as the x-ray showed nothing. Wait 4 weeks and if it hasn’t improved then come back. 4 weeks and it was worse still so got a referral to physio and waited 6 weeks in pain. Physio said it was a damaged shoulder and not their area so sent back to GP. GP referral to another physio. Physio 2 said there was severe damage inside the shoulder that would require surgery. GP sent the person to a specialist to discuss surgery. Wait 8 weeks. Chase to be told it was delayed so wait another 4 weeks. Appointment cancelled so wait a further 2 weekx. Specialist says that because of the age of the injury the only option was to cut the tendon to relieve the pain but the person would never raise their arm above their shoulder again.

Went to the private specialist the following week who suggested building a support channel for the tendons, repairing them and then 3 months of physio. Surgery the week after that with immediate physio when required and shoulder fully rtepaired.