Members of the public are invited aboard the health bus to receive various health checks. Credit: Naveen Narayan
SHARE:
A health bus has rolled into Redbridge to improve access to health care.
In partnership with healthcare providers, the council is offering locals a variety of services, including blood pressure checks, flu vaccinations, and substance misuse information.
All borough constituents are invited on board to receive checks for health indicators such as their BMI, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
Locals queue for the Healthy Redbridge Bus during lunch time in Ilford town centre. Credit: Naveen Narayan
Putting the public in public health
Redbridge council is working with community organisations and faith groups in the borough to bring health services to local communities. This approach was successful during the COVID-19 pandemic when the bus offered vaccinations against coronavirus.
Mark Santos, Councillor for Barkingside Ward leads the Healthy Redbridge Bus initiative, and says:
“We do have a challenges around diabetes, for example, in Redbridge as a long-term condition, amongst other long-term conditions.”
“And so [the bus] is a way of reaching out to communities and not waiting for communities to come to us but to go out to where people are and where people live their lives”.
“It’s a really important way of being proactive about people’s health. It’s making a statement to say ‘you need to be thinking about our health’.”
Pressures on the health service
The health bus will help reduce the pressure on the NHS. Dr Meta has been a GP in Redbridge for 30 years and says that:
“Often, it can be difficult to get appointments with practises”.
“We could do with more doctors and nurses…and so bringing the bus out into the public area will help reduce that pressure.”
Submitted Article
Headline
Short Headline
Standfirst
Published Article
HeadlineRedbridge council rolls out health bus
Short HeadlineHealth bus rolled out by Redbridge Council
StandfirstA new public health initiatives has been introduced in Redbridge to improve access to health care access to locals
A health bus has rolled into Redbridge to improve access to health care.
In partnership with healthcare providers, the council is offering locals a variety of services, including blood pressure checks, flu vaccinations, and substance misuse information.
All borough constituents are invited on board to receive checks for health indicators such as their BMI, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
Locals queue for the Healthy Redbridge Bus during lunch time in Ilford town centre. Credit: Naveen Narayan
Putting the public in public health
Redbridge council is working with community organisations and faith groups in the borough to bring health services to local communities. This approach was successful during the COVID-19 pandemic when the bus offered vaccinations against coronavirus.
Mark Santos, Councillor for Barkingside Ward leads the Healthy Redbridge Bus initiative, and says:
“We do have a challenges around diabetes, for example, in Redbridge as a long-term condition, amongst other long-term conditions.”
“And so [the bus] is a way of reaching out to communities and not waiting for communities to come to us but to go out to where people are and where people live their lives”.
“It’s a really important way of being proactive about people’s health. It’s making a statement to say ‘you need to be thinking about our health’.”
Pressures on the health service
The health bus will help reduce the pressure on the NHS. Dr Meta has been a GP in Redbridge for 30 years and says that:
“Often, it can be difficult to get appointments with practises”.
“We could do with more doctors and nurses…and so bringing the bus out into the public area will help reduce that pressure.”
