Over 500 residents of Stoke-on-Trent attended a special pop-up event hosted at one of the city’s community lounges, aimed at addressing potential heart issues.
National charity the Pumping Marvellous Foundation teamed up with the Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust to host the B.E.A.T Heart Health event at Tommy Cheadle’s Community Lounge based at Port Vale Football Club.
The event's success is another vital step in creating healthier communities across Stoke-on-Trent. Early prevention work is a crucial priority for Stoke-on-Trent City Council, with residents taking greater control of their own health, and alleviate any concerns before they become more significant problems.
Attendees were contacted in advance of the day via two Primary Care Networks in the city and tested for signs of undetected heart failure plus high blood pressure and blood checks in case a heart scan is needed.
Councillor Duncan Walker, cabinet member for Adult Services, said:
“Events like this really show that residents of Stoke-on-Trent are willing to take charge of their own health, and find the necessary support they need.
“We know that heart failure is the biggest cause of excess deaths across the country, but by getting the necessary checks from trained professionals and living an active lifestyle, people of the city can still live rich and healthy lives.
“The Community Lounge here at Tommy Cheadle’s is one of 18 across the city, giving people the support they need in close proximity to their own homes. Coming to a community lounge will often save a trip to the GP, or even a hospital appointment. The early prevention work going on is vital, and will alleviate pressures on NHS waiting lists.”
Neil Carr, MPFT Chief Executive said:
"Our fantastic Heart Failure team were only too happy to support this special event, screening more than 500 people on the day; with a number of those screened signposted by the team for further support.
“My thanks goes out to the team for their hard work and for living the Trust’s values; putting people at the heart of what we do, and delivering better health and care in partnership. Together we are making life better for our communities and we were proud to be part of this inspiring event.”
Nick Hartshorne-Evans CEO and Founder of the Pumping Marvellous Foundation said:
“We understand the significance of an early diagnosis and its impact on people's quality and length of life. Therefore, it is necessary to change our approach towards diagnosing individuals and ensuring they receive optimised treatments. This will not only improve their quality of life but also reduce unplanned hospital admissions. By reaching out to communities and detecting the issue early on, we can treat it before it escalates into an emergency situation requiring a prolonged hospital stay and intervention by emergency services.”
There are 18 community lounges based in different locations across Stoke-on-Trent, find your local community lounge at https://communities-together.co.uk/
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