The NHS in Gloucestershire is supporting Know Your Numbers Week, an annual campaign led by charity Blood Pressure UK, with a series of health check drop-in events where people can get their blood pressure checked.
One Gloucestershire’s Information Bus and the Outreach Vaccination and Health Team will be out and about every day from Monday 2 September to Sunday 8 September* at locations across the county.
People can drop-in for a blood pressure check and a chat with members of the team about how to make positive changes to their health or wellbeing and get further support if needed.
Dr Graham Mennie, local GP and Clinical Lead and Chair, Circulatory Clinical Programme Group, NHS Gloucestershire.
“High blood pressure is a major cause of heart attacks and stroke. Around one in three adults have high blood pressure, but many don’t realise it because it often doesn’t have any symptoms until it’s too late.
That’s why it’s so important to take the time to find out your numbers and start making healthy lifestyle changes or taking medicines if you need them to help bring your blood pressure down.”
Oonagh Wilson, Clinical Lead, Community Outreach Vaccination and Health Team at Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“Know Your Numbers Week is a good opportunity to talk about the importance of being aware of your blood pressure. We all lead busy, often stressful, lives but taking some time to think about our health and wellbeing and understanding the importance of stats like blood pressure is key to preventing things like heart attacks and strokes.
Our fantastic health team will be out and about in the community all week, offering simple health checks, including blood pressure, and chatting to people about simple changes they can make to their lifestyle, such as stopping smoking, improving their diet, or increasing exercise.
In Gloucestershire, the Outreach Vaccination and Health Team have given more than 1,250 BP checks at drop-in health check events over the last year, with around 150 people referred to their GP for further support.
Community drop-in dates for Know Your Numbers Week
*If you can’t make one of the dates below, the Community Outreach Vaccination and Health Team will be offering blood pressure checks until the middle of September, the full list of dates are available here.
| Date | Location |
| Monday 2 September 10am-3pm | Tesco, Dockham Road, Cinderford, GL14 2AQ |
| Tuesday 3 September, 10am-3pm | Gloucester, The Cross (outside HSBC) |
| Wednesday 4 September, 10am-3pm | Stow, Market Square. Near Lucy’s Tea Room, GL54 1AB |
| Thursday 5 September, 10am-1pm | Cheltenham, Pitville Park. Pump Rooms forecourt |
| Friday 6 September, 10am-3pm | Morrison’s, Ashchurch Road, Tewkesbury, GL20 8AB |
| Saturday 7 September, 10am-3pm | Cirencester Fun Day, Kingshill School, GL7 1HS |
| Sunday 8 September, 10am-3pm | Frampton Country Fair, Frampton Court Estate |