Improving Physical Health for People with
Severe Mental Illness
Our Severe Mental Illness (SMI) Health Check Service provides comprehensive annual health checks for people living with severe mental illness, helping to identify physical health conditions early and support long-term wellbeing.
Delivered across Peterborough, Wisbech and Cambridge in a range of accessible locations, the service removes barriers to care, improves access for hard-to-reach patients and ensures individuals receive the regular monitoring they need to live healthier lives.
Severe Mental Illness
The Severe Mental Illness (SMI) Service provides comprehensive annual health checks for individuals on the SMI register, supporting both patients and GP practices in monitoring and managing physical health alongside mental health needs. These checks ensure patients receive consistent, proactive care, helping to identify and address health concerns at an early stage.
Each health check includes a range of assessments such as blood pressure, pulse, BMI calculation, smoking and alcohol status (with advice and signposting for support), venepuncture, and access to appropriate cancer screening where eligible. ECGs are also provided where clinically required. All findings are shared with the patient’s registered practice, enabling clinicians to make informed decisions and update care or treatment plans accordingly.
Patients with severe mental illness are at significantly higher risk of developing chronic physical health conditions, often at a younger age, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory conditions, and liver disease. Regular health checks are therefore essential in supporting early diagnosis, improving long-term outcomes, and reducing health inequalities within our population.
The service is commissioned to deliver care across 74 practices in Peterborough, Wisbech, and Cambridge, and has expanded since April 2025 to cover all of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. A flexible delivery model ensures patients can access care in a way that suits their needs, whether at their registered GP practice through dedicated clinics, in their own home, or during extended hours at the Peterborough GP Hub. This approach improves accessibility and has contributed to a reduction in Did Not Attend (DNA) rates, particularly among harder-to-reach groups.
In addition to clinical assessments, the service supports patients to engage with wider healthcare services, including routine monitoring, medication reviews, and referrals or signposting to additional support where needed. By improving engagement and removing barriers to access, the SMI Service plays a key role in delivering more equitable healthcare.
The SMI Service operates:
- Monday to Friday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
One Saturday per month: Delivered from the City Care Centre
Through its proactive and flexible approach, the SMI Service enhances access to essential physical health care, supports early intervention, and improves overall health outcomes for patients living with severe mental illness across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Who can access the service?
The SMI Health Check service is available to eligible patients across Peterborough and Huntingdonshire.
If you have a severe mental illness (SMI), you may be entitled to an annual physical health check to help identify and manage physical health needs.
How to access the service
SMI Health Checks are accessed through the appropriate referral pathway.
If you think you may be eligible or have not had an annual SMI Health Check, please speak to your GP practice or healthcare professional. They can discuss your eligibility and arrange a referral where appropriate.
