Healthy lifestyle event gives patients unprecedented accesses to free assessments and advice
7 November 2024
Patients were given unprecedented accesses to free health assessments and advice at a special community event in Penarth.
The Eastern Vale Healthy Lifestyle Event, described as a “one-stop shop for your health and wellbeing”, was held in Penarth Leisure Centre, Cogan, on Saturday, October 26.
Those in attendance could talk to local experts about staying healthy and access services that would normally need a GP referral. They could also have their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels checked – the results of which were given on the day.
Several organisations attended, including:
- Help Me Quit: Free NHS help to quit smoking
- Foodwise for Life: Specialist dietary advice
- Mind in the Vale of Glamorgan: Independent mental health charity
- Age Connects Cardiff & Vale: Independent charity committed to tackling loneliness, isolation and poverty among older people
- Citizens Advice Cardiff & Vale: Free independent, impartial advice on financial issues, employment and education
- Wales National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS): leisure and exercise referral to maintain a healthy weight
- Local nurses and opticians
The event was also fun for all the family and featured a bouncy castle, soft play and face painting for the children.
Dr Chris Matthews, GP and Community Director/Cluster Lead for Eastern Vale Locality, said: “We understand that it is not always easy to see your GP, optician or community nurse. For this reason, we designed an event aimed at giving patients access to services and activities to keep them healthy.
“At the event people were able to chat with local experts about staying healthy, access services that would normally need a GP referral, as well as have their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels checked.
“Our goal is to prevent poor health before it happens and help people get back to their best. The event was a huge success, and we hope to organise more in the near future.”
On the day, everyone aged over 18 and registered with Penarth Healthcare Partnership, Dinas Powys Medical Practice or Redlands Surgery was able to access services that would normally require a GP referral.
All those who attended and filled out a feedback questionnaire said they would attend similar events in future. Dozens of people said they would make lifestyle changes on the back of the health checks they received.
The organisers added: “We would like to recognise the dedicated organisations and individuals who selflessly gave up their time to volunteer or run a stand. Whether they were helping with the setup, registration, surveys, clinical testing, signposting or cleaning up, each one played a vital role. Others donated to the raffle and tote bags, helped with communications and procurement or offered clinical or governance advice.”