Neko Health opens in Shoreditch, as data proves young professionals pick private health diagnostics over NHS tests

Launched in Sweden with the stylish, minimal aesthetic and tech-first ethos that you’d expect from the Nordic region, Neko Health is now changing the face of preventive healthcare in London.

Their futuristic £299 hour-long full-body scans harness AI and cutting edge bio-sensor technology to assess everything from skin anomalies to cardiac function and blood markers with style, speed and efficiency which feels a world away from your local GP.

The aim of the game? To empower doctors with the highest quality information in the most effective way so that they can quickly and efficiently flag potential issues before they become problems. More fundamentally of course it’s also about “showing that a different kind of healthcare future is possible,” as co-founder and CEO Hjalmar Nilsonne keenly emphasised when we met at the site pre-launch. One that is not just preventative but also fun and beautiful, expansive and uplifting.

Neko’s first UK doors opened in Marylebone back in September last year and a hefty 10K waiting list very quickly followed, proving that the demand is very much there. And while Neko’s glamorous, high-octane offering is certainly a pull, plus its timing spectacularly on point, this surge in demand is part of a wider trend.

A report by the Independent Healthcare Provider Network (IHPN) found that demand for private tests has soared among young professionals between the ages of 20 to 40. This is a demographic - after all - accustomed to convenient, high-quality, personalised services in many other aspects of their lives. Now they want the same efficiency, efficacy and reassurance when it comes to their health.

Neko’s gleaming new Spitalfields site is a futuristic joy to behold and able to deliver 30,000 scans annually. Here performance meets prevention as - after slipping into a butter-yellow robe - one is guided through a series of serene spaces where the architecture is just as well curated as the diagnostics - all pale woods, towering curves and quiet precision.

I sat, stood, was scanned, by cameras, sensors, bleeping machines. Lights up, then down, while robotic voices emerged through speakers to keep me rigorously informed. My blood was taken then sucked with a whoosh through a hole in the ceiling. Ten minutes later a doctor appeared to deliver my results and respond to any queries in full. No rush. No panic. No grizzly waiting room. This is healthcare reimagined: Quietly radical, thrillingly empowering, beautifully clean and lovely to look at.

Rapid geographical expansion for the brand is certain, but it'll be exciting to see what Neko comes for next. As a woman in my thirties I’m quietly hoping that it’s our hormones. Luckily with the speed and efficiency at which Neko works I probably needn't wait long.

1 Lamb Street, Spitalfields, E16EA (nekohealth.com)