News

29 March 2011

Chorley health shop success

A ONE stop health shop in Chorley town centre has proved so popular with people wanting mini-MOTs it is to be kept open for the time being.

More than 250 people dropped in at the Shop in Cleveland Street, in since it was opened by local boxer Michael Jennings in January - 130 of them in the last month.

The healthy lifestyle advisors manning the shop have been in such demand that now partners Chorley Council and NHS Central Lancashire have agreed to keep the shop open into this next financial year.

People can drop into the shop without an appointment for checks including BMI, weight, blood pressure and lung age. They can also get smoking advice and to find out more about the many free services available to help them lead a healthier lifestyle.

Chorley Council leader Councillor Peter Goldsworthy said: “The one stop shop has been a great success since it was opened in January giving people the chance to drop in and get checked out when they are out shopping or in their lunch hour.

“The health and well being of all our residents is important to us so we are pleased we can continue the service for the time being to give even more people the chance to get their health checked out.”

Jenny Broom, NHS Central Lancashire healthy lifestyle advisor, said: “The shop has proved popular with people of all ages who seem to like the fact that they don’t have to make an appointment. People have also commented that they feel good that they are not taking up the time of their GP to ask a question or get something fairly simple checked.”

Anyone can call in for a free health check or to ask advice on healthy lifestyle issues, no appointment is necessary. The shop is open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and alternate Saturdays from 10am to 4pm.

For more information on the shop or the services available to residents of central Lancashire about working towards a healthier lifestyle visit www.fitsquad.nhs.uk or call 01772 644 158.

20 September 2010

Free health checks for Chorley

A new health kiosk is set to open in Chorley town centre offering free health checks to local people.

It follows on from the hugely successful campaign run in the town centre when people were able to drop into Chorley Council’s Chorley Smile trailer on the Flat Iron Market where Healthy Lifestyle experts were on hand to check their blood pressure, height and weight, carbon monoxide levels for smokers and alcohol awareness.

Now the Chorley Partnership, working with NHS Central Lancashire’s Healthy Lifestyle Services and Chorley Council, has extended the scheme by opening the kiosk at 59 Market Street.

It will be open from 10am to 5pm every Monday, Tuesday and Friday throughout September and October, and on Saturdays, October 2, 16 and 30, for people to just drop in for a mini MOT and to talk to health experts about help in stopping smoking, free weight management courses and alcohol awareness advice.

Councillor Peter Goldsworthy, Chorley Council Leader and chair of the Chorley Partnership Executive which is helping fund the health checks, said: “The health and wellbeing of our residents is of vital importance. We launched the health checks in our Chorley Smile trailer on the Flat Iron Market and they proved a huge success. Opening up the kiosk is another way of making the health checks as accessible to as many people as possible so we hope everyone will come along and take advantage of them.”

Tracy Sutton, Healthy Lifestyle Coordinator said: “Many people are aware that there is a stop smoking service available for local people, but we know that many people put off taking the first step as they worry about putting on weight. The kiosk will help to give people more information and advice including the fact that there is also a six week free weight management course on offer which can be really helpful when trying to give up smoking.”

Tracy Murdoch, Clinical Coordinator for Primary and Secondary Intervention Services said: “We know that early intervention can help diagnose and treat a wide range of long term health conditions and this will give our team a high street presence for Chorley residents which will be invaluable.

“It will also make it easier for people who are interested in stopping smoking and losing weight to take the first step and call in to talk to the friendly team about the many services that are available for residents in central Lancashire.”

The kiosk will be officially opened on Monday 20 September by Mary Kiddy, Acting Associate Director and Consultant Nurse for Health Protection, Mark Hindle, Managing Director and Chorley Council Leader and Chair of the Chorley Partnership Executive Councillor Peter Goldsworthy.