Family health calendar

Screening, Health Checks, flu jabs, eye tests and dentists. See what the NHS offers each person at home, by age.

Your details

Your family's NHS checks and vaccines

regular checks across 4 people, in England

You (52, female)NHS Health Check every 5 years; bowel screening kit every 2 years; cervical screening every 5 years; breast screening every 3 years; eye test every 2 years; dental check ups every 3 to 24 months, as your dentist advises
Partner (55, male)NHS Health Check every 5 years; bowel screening kit every 2 years; eye test every 2 years; dental check ups every 3 to 24 months, as your dentist advises
Child (9)flu vaccine each autumn; free eye test every 2 years; dental check ups every 3 to 12 months, as your dentist advises
Second child (3)flu vaccine each autumn; free eye test every 2 years; dental check ups every 3 to 12 months, as your dentist advises

Invitations come by letter or through the NHS App, so keep your GP surgery's address details up to date. Screening ages differ a little in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Children's routine vaccines (the red book schedule) and pregnancy appointments are on their own pages.

Do not wait for a screening invitation if you have symptoms: see your GP. If you missed a screening, you can usually ask for it.

The working

A woman of 52, a man of 55 and children of 9 and 3

That is 16 regular checks across 4 people. At 52 she has cervical (every 5 years), breast (every 3) and bowel screening (every 2), plus an NHS Health Check every 5 years; at 55 he has bowel screening and a Health Check. Both children get a flu vaccine each autumn and free eye tests.

By age

England

Check	Who
NHS Health Check	40 to 74, every 5 years
Bowel screening	50 to 74, every 2 years
Cervical screening	25 to 64, every 5 years if HPV negative
Breast screening	50 to 71, every 3 years
AAA screening	men in the year they turn 65
Flu vaccine	65 and over, and children from 2 to school age 16

Staying on top of it

Small habits

Keep your address and phone number up to date with your GP
Turn on NHS App notifications
Put recall dates in a shared family calendar
If you miss one, you can usually ask for it

Read with care

What this cannot tell you

Know your recordsYour GP has your actual due dates.
Cover every nation exactlyAges differ a little in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Cover health conditionsSome conditions mean earlier or more frequent checks.

Questions

Common questions

What health checks does the NHS offer by age?

Health Checks from 40 to 74, bowel screening from 50 to 74, cervical screening from 25 to 64, breast screening from 50 to 71 and AAA screening for men at 65.

How often should children see a dentist?

NICE says your dentist sets the gap: between 3 and 12 months for children, and 3 to 24 months for adults.

Are eye tests free?

In England, for under 16s, 16 to 18s in full time education, over 60s and some other groups. Adults are advised to have one every 2 years.

Do children need a flu vaccine?

Children aged 2 and 3 and school children up to year 11 are offered a nasal spray flu vaccine each autumn.

Sources

Last checked 21 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.

If something worries you

Do not wait for a screening invitation if you have symptoms: see your GP. If you missed a screening, contact your GP or the screening service to ask for it.