Have a health check next time you pop to the shops
Next time you pop to the supermarket, why not get your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol checked at the same time?
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust's (KCHFT) health and wellbeing bus and One You Health Improvement Team are touring supermarkets, towns, villages and community events offering people the chance to see how healthy they are.
An NHS Health Check takes up to 30 minutes, or alternatively people can have a shorter health MOT. Both come with advice on how to lead a healthier lifestyle and people are pointed in the direction of specific or further help and advice if needed.
Here's where you can have an NHS health check or health MOT in the next few weeks:
- Thursday 28 September, 10am to 3pm, Dover Leisure Centre, Dover
- Friday 29 September, 10am to 3pm, Bouverie Place, Folkestone
- Friday 29 September, 10am to 3pm, Hermitage Park, Allington
- Monday 2 October, 10am to 3pm, Stour Leisure Centre, Ashford
- Tuesday 3 October, 10am to 3pm, Public Health outreach unit, Tesco Extra, Broadstairs
- Wednesday 4 October, 9.30am to 12.30pm, The Umbrella Centre, Faversham
- Wednesday 4 October, 9.30am to 12.30pm, Abbey Physic Community Gardens, Faversham
- Friday 6 October, 10am to 3pm, Public Health outreach unit, Waitrose, Ashford
- Monday 9 October, 10am to 3pm, Trinity House, Maidstone
- Wednesday 11 October, 10am to 1pm, Diversity House, Sittingbourne
- Friday 13 October, 10am to 3pm, Public Health outreach unit, Asda entrance in Bouverie Place Folkestone
- Friday 20 October, 9.30am to 4.30pm, Gravesham Civic Centre (pre-booked appointments, phone 03001231220 to book)
- Monday 23 October, 10am to 3pm, Ramsgate Leisure Centre, Ramsgate
- Monday 23 October, 10am to 3pm, The Holmesdale School over-55s information fair, Snodland
- Friday 27 October, 10am to 2pm, Market Square, Faversham
- Monday 30 October, 10am to 3pm, Hartsdown Leisure Centre, Margate
- Tuesday 31 October, 10am to 2pm, Cattle Market, Ashford.
Parents, shoppers and others had health checks and MOTs when our bus recently joined an event in Ashford.
Anthony Dade, 73, was already aware of his main health issues, but following a health MOT, said: “It was nice to be told that I’m doing the right things, I’m on the right track and things haven’t got any worse.”
Ashford resident Anthony Dade has a health check with Paul Holland from our One You Team.
His wife, Gill, 72, had a full health check on board the KCHFT public health bus. She said: “I had my height, weight, blood pressure, pulse and cholesterol measured and was given my BMI (body mass index) result. My BMI was a little over, but that’s because I eat too much chocolate!
“Everything else was ok. We stopped to be checked as we live nearby, so it was very convenient. We saw the event was on and it’s nice to see a health professional, for reassurance.”
Our bus and One You stand were just two of the attractions at an Eat Well, Spend Less event, organised by Ashford Borough Council (ABC).
ABC volunteer tree warden Paul Bartlett passed by while the event was on. He said: “Events like this are a terrific idea, right in the middle of communities, where lots of people live.
“People can be cautious about booking a doctor’s appointment, as they might feel they are being an imposition, so this is great. Without having health checks, people might not be aware of how healthy they might be or issues they might have.”
Free NHS health checks are available to people aged 40 to 74 and can help prevent diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke and dementia. We offer these in partnership with Kent County Council. People can have a free health check every five years (if they are not being treated for any existing cardiovascular conditions).
Our improved bus takes healthcare to the heart of communities
We have recently made improvements to our health and wellbeing bus, clearing space inside to make it easier for people in wheelchairs and parents and carers with pushchairs.
Better and safer steps have been added, in addition to the existing ramp and the bus has been made more environmentally friendly, as it is now solar powered, thanks to £8,500 from Greener NHS.
The bus delivers health services to people and communities who might otherwise have trouble getting to our clinics. Services offered on board include health visiting, school health, immunisation, children and young people’s counselling, health checks, One You Kent, sexual health and TB nursing.
Helen Merrick, Health Inequalities and Partnerships Manager at KCHFT, said: “We wanted to increase the visibility of the public health services we offer. We aimed to be more accessible and to take healthcare out to people, rather than expecting them to come to us.
“We spoke with people using the bus and parents said they didn’t want to leave their buggies outside, so we’ve folded down desks so they can now bring buggies on board. We also did a walk round, to make sure wheelchair users would be able to access the space. Other feedback has resulted in us adding some Easy Read leaflets and putting some posters at a lower level.”
Sarah Ansell, KCHFT's public governor for Ashford, said: "I think the bus is very accessible to people who are disabled and walk with sticks. It is a brilliant resource for the public, taken to the public.”
For more information visit www.kentcht.nhs/healthchecks or phone 0300 123 1220.
