A shiny new preventative health centre has opened in the city, so we sent resident guineapig Shelley Carter along to see what the fuss was all about
A hop skip and a jump from Snow Hill station, Neko Health opened its doors in January amid a flurry of social media activity with influencers and local celebs gadding about in robes and rubber shoes ahead of the clinic’s official launch. I was lucky enough to have a complimentary health check too so thought I’d report back. For transparency, despite being a freebie, there’s no pressure for me to say nice things here.
MOOD MUSIC
Firstly, it’s a health facility with actual doctors. It might feel like a luxury spa, but Neko has serious preventative health at its core with the Birmingham site having the capacity to deliver 25,000 full body scans every year. What the spa vibes and geisha-like robe and shoes do is relax you slightly. I say slightly because as a middle-aged mother-of-two, there’s a nervousness about it that no amount of minimalist interiors and mood music will eradicate. ‘What if they find something horrendous?’ closely followed by, ‘At least I’ll know there’s something horrendous,’ and ‘As long as I can get the kids through university before the worst happens,’ irrationally whirred about in my head while I waited.
The procedure, if that’s the right word, is simple, takes roughly an hour and is painless unless you call a blood test painful in which case, get a grip. Standing in your pants for a couple of minutes while you’re scanned head to toe is about as bad as it gets and that’s a doddle. The scan documents every mark on your body flagging any that might need a second look by a dermatologist. I had roughly 1,200 marks which is about half the average according to the doctor which is staggering. An ECG, blood pressure check and even a tissue scan followed. Your bloods are whizzed up to a lab in a Star Trek contraption while the other checks are completed meaning results are in quickly.
RISK FACTOR
The scan assesses skin health, blood sugar levels to identify pre-diabetes risk and blood abnormalities as well as risk factors linked to metabolic syndrome, stroke and heart attack so it feels fairly comprehensive. You sit down with a doctor straight after your tests to talk through the findings. An avatar of your body pops up on the big screen which feels a bit odd but once you’re over the shock of that, the results are fascinating. I didn’t have anything to worry about so the word fascinating feels right.
If something is flagged as concerning, I imagine it’s less so. A copy of the report is sent via the Neko app and by email so you can fully digest it later, but I found the chat with the doctor very helpful. The doctors are dressed more like tech bros than doctors but mine was fantastic – really thorough, he deciphered the numbers in a language I understood.
FOLLOW UP
The scan costs £299 and it’s recommended you have one every year. As a health check-up I think it’s fantastic and feels reasonably priced. I know there are health checks on the market at a much higher price point offering MRIs and CT scans, but as an overall 12-monthly check-up I think the offering at Neko is a brilliant option.
Apparently 80 per cent of people choose to re-book for the following year which I did – it felt silly not to. I’ve been evangelical about Neko since and recommended it to everyone. There’s a waiting list as long as Mr Tickle’s arm currently, but I thoroughly recommend getting your name on it. Whether the news is good or bad you won’t regret it.