Does a full body MOT check your blood pressure?

Yes. Every tier of the full body MOT at the Health Screening Clinic, from the Essential at £495 upwards, measures your blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation, and includes an ECG and a doctor's examination. You then sit down with the doctor to go through every result in person.

The reading itself takes a minute. What makes it useful is what sits beside it on the page: your cholesterol, your HbA1c, your kidney results and your ECG. The doctor reads them together, so a blood pressure figure is never left to stand alone. You can see the full body MOT options and book online for 117a Harley Street, open Mon to Fri 09:00 to 18:00 and Sat to Sun 10:00 to 14:00.

"High blood pressure gives no warning, which is why so many people have it without knowing. It takes a minute to check, and treating it makes a big difference."

Prof Darrel Francis, Consultant Cardiologist, GMC 4062833

This guide follows the reading itself and what comes next. For what blood pressure, cholesterol and an ECG each measure, our guide to heart health metrics goes through them.

Which line your reading falls under

nhs.uk says you are usually considered to have high blood pressure if a healthcare professional measures 140/90 or higher, or if you measure 135/85 or higher at home. One reading is a snapshot, and a rushed journey can nudge it up. So the doctor looks at where you sit against those lines, and then at the rest of you.

A reading under the line

The doctor treats this as your baseline. Your pulse, oxygen level, ECG and cholesterol are read beside it, and the doctor talks through anything that would change how often you should be checked, such as a parent with high blood pressure or a rise in your weight.

A reading that sits just under the line usually leads to a conversation about salt, alcohol, activity and weight. A figure in the usual range is still worth having on paper. Blood pressure tends to drift upwards with age, and a number from this year gives you and your doctor something to compare with next year's.

A borderline or raised reading, once

A single high figure is a reason to look closer. The doctor asks about your family, your diet, your salt and alcohol, and how your week has been, then decides with you how to confirm it.

nhs.uk describes the usual ways: readings at home over a few days, a repeat check a little later, or a portable monitor worn for 24 hours.

With the Advanced, Elite or Ultimate MOT, the recheck can happen with us. These tiers include four GP appointments over the 12 months after screening. They are unlimited in length and can be shared with immediate family, so a second reading in three months, or a partner's first, is already covered. The Advanced MOT at £999 is the first tier to include them. Compare the Advanced MOT.

A raised reading beside other risk factors

The picture changes when blood pressure comes with a high cholesterol figure, a borderline HbA1c or a family history. These tend to act together over the years, so the doctor weighs them as a group. A modest blood pressure reading next to a raised lipid profile is handled differently from the same reading in someone whose other results are tidy.

This is where an in-person review earns its place. The doctor examines you, goes through each line, puts them in order of what matters for you, and agrees the next step before you leave. Our guide on whether a full body MOT can detect diabetes shows the same approach applied to blood sugar.

When a cardiologist should look

Some readings call for a specialist, such as pressure that stays high on repeat checks or an ECG finding the doctor wants explored. We then refer you to a cardiologist our doctors know, and the referral carries no charge from us. Prof Francis, who reviewed this guide, sees patients in his cardiology clinic at Medical Express Clinic.

Choosing a tier

The blood pressure reading, pulse, oxygen level and ECG are the same on every tier, so the choice rests on what else you want measured and whether you want follow-up built in.

• Essential, £495. Blood pressure, pulse, oxygen, ECG, cholesterol, HbA1c and kidney results, with the doctor's examination and review. See the Essential MOT.
• Advanced, £999. Adds lung function, a chest X-ray and the four GP appointments, which suit anyone who expects to recheck a reading.
• Elite and above. Adds ultrasound and tumour markers to the same heart checks. See the Elite MOT.

Questions we hear

I had a check at the pharmacy. Is it worth repeating?

nhs.uk says many pharmacies offer free checks for people aged 40 or over, and a pharmacy reading is a good start. The MOT places that number beside your ECG and cholesterol, so you leave with a plan as well as a figure.

How often should it be checked?

nhs.uk advises a check if you are 40 or over and have gone more than 5 years without one. Your doctor sets a shorter gap if your result or family history calls for it.

Book your full body MOT

Come in for a blood pressure reading and the rest of the picture with a Harley Street doctor. Book a full body MOT at the Health Screening Clinic.

Written By

Stephen Lingam

Managing Director

Managing Director of Medical Express Clinic and the Health Screening Clinic since 1984. Over 40 years of operational experience in private healthcare on Harley Street, overseeing patient care, clinical standards, and service delivery.

Medically Reviewed

Prof Darrel Francis

MA, MD, FRCP

Consultant Cardiologist

GMC: 4062833

Renowned cardiologist providing expert cardiac oversight for our comprehensive health MOTs.

Last reviewed: 14/11/2026