Health Screening
Who will review my results? Questions to ask before you book a health screening
Written by Mr Stephen LingamReviewed by Dr Mohammad Bakhtiar (GMC 4694470) on
The email arrives late in the evening. A PDF, four pages of numbers, two of them in red. There is a phone number at the bottom, but the person who answers can't tell you what the red numbers mean.
That is what many health screenings look like after you have paid. You can find out in advance by asking four questions. A clinic that takes responsibility for your care will answer them straight away, and the answers tell you whether you are buying a health screening or a blood test.
| Ask | A good answer | Our answer |
|---|---|---|
| Which doctor will I see in person? | A named, GMC-registered doctor who examines you face to face | A Harley Street doctor, on every tier from the £495 Essential. Our clinical lead is Dr Mohammad Bakhtiar (GMC 4694470) |
| Which doctor will review my results? | Ideally the same doctor who examined you | A senior GP, usually the doctor who examined you. Elite and Ultimate add specialist reporting, including consultant radiology on Ultimate |
| If something is wrong, can you help me? | A direct referral to the right specialist, with the cost and timing explained | We refer you directly, can get you seen quicker, and charge no referral fee. An ECG that needs a specialist goes to Prof Darrel Francis, consultant cardiologist, at no extra charge |
| Is follow-up included in the price? | Yes, with a clear description of what it covers | Yes, on every tier. Advanced, Elite and Ultimate add four GP consultations over 12 months, shareable with immediate family |
Why the examination matters
A physical examination finds things blood tests can't: a heart murmur, an enlarged thyroid, a changing mole, a blood pressure higher than you knew. It is also where the doctor hears your history, and that history is what turns a number into an answer.
A reference range is a statistical guide. A liver enzyme just above it means one thing in a marathon runner and another in someone who drinks most evenings. Someone has to make that call, and the best person is the doctor who has already examined you.
"When the report comes back, I go through it with you line by line. If something needs a specialist, I'll tell you who I'd want to see myself."
Dr Penny Sheehan, General Practitioner
What happens at your review
Your review can be in person at Harley Street, or by video or telephone, usually with the doctor who examined you. Most results need nothing more than an explanation. Where something needs repeating or a specialist, the plan is agreed there and then, and the clinic arranges it.
We have screened more than 10,000 patients at 117a Harley Street, where the clinic has been since 1984. You can see the clinicians behind our screening on our consultants page, and how referrals work in how we choose your specialist.
When you are paying privately, you should expect the highest standard of care. If a provider can't answer the four questions, what is on offer is a blood test, and our guide is a full body MOT just a blood test? explains the difference. To compare our four tiers, visit the Health MOT page, or call 020 7183 7056 and ask us the questions yourself.
Sources
- UK National Screening Committee. Principles of screening
- The Health Screening Clinic. Health MOTs
- The Health Screening Clinic. Consultants
- General Medical Council. Medical register, Mohammad Bakhtiar, 4694470
- General Medical Council. Medical register, Penny Sheehan, 6056535
- General Medical Council. Medical register, Darrel Francis, 4062833
Related screening
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.
Dr Mohammad Bakhtiar
MD, PhD, LRCP, MSc, DHMSA
Clinical Lead
GMC: 4694470
Leading our clinical team with a focus on comprehensive men's health and preventative oncology protocols.
Last reviewed: 06/10/2026